The United Kingdom and Nigeria have launched a new £15 million Growth Programme aimed at accelerating economic transformation, attracting private sector investment and supporting long-term economic growth in Africa’s largest economy.
The initiative was announced during a two-day visit to Nigeria by the UK Minister for Africa and International Development, Baroness Jenny Chapman, who held a series of high-level meetings in Abuja and Kaduna focused on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.
A key highlight of the visit was Chapman’s meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, where both sides unveiled the UK–Nigeria Growth Programme. The three-year initiative is designed to support Nigeria’s transition from macroeconomic stabilisation to sustained, reform-driven growth by unlocking investment opportunities and strengthening economic institutions.
In addition to the Growth Programme, the UK announced expanded collaboration in Nigeria’s digital economy through the SPRIRET initiative under the UK’s Digital Access Programme. The project will support digital governance reforms across five Nigerian states, with the goal of reducing regulatory barriers and encouraging greater investment in broadband infrastructure, digital services and emerging technologies.
Speaking on the new initiative, Oyedele described the UK–Nigeria relationship as one of the most important partnerships for both countries, noting that cooperation has increasingly focused on development, economic growth and shared prosperity.
According to him, the Growth Programme will support areas such as capital market development, technology investment, small businesses and technical assistance, creating opportunities for sustainable economic progress.
During her visit, Chapman also met with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, to review progress under the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP). Discussions centred on expanding exports through the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, strengthening fintech collaboration and deepening capital market linkages between both nations.
In Kaduna, the UK minister met with Governor Uba Sani to assess more than two decades of cooperation between the state and the UK. The discussions explored opportunities to deepen collaboration in investment promotion, climate finance, healthcare and agriculture.
Chapman also engaged with business leaders and institutional investors to discuss investment opportunities and strategies for mobilising capital into critical sectors of the economy.
As part of her engagements, she met community animal health workers and livestock breeders benefiting from UK-supported programmes focused on improved breeding techniques, animal health and vaccine development. She also visited the Unguwan Sanusi Primary Health Care Centre in Kaduna South, where she interacted with healthcare workers and residents benefiting from UK-backed health interventions.
At the conclusion of the visit, Chapman described the UK–Nigeria relationship as a strong and evolving partnership built on mutual interests and shared ambitions.
She said her engagements had reinforced confidence in Nigeria’s economic potential and highlighted the positive impact of ongoing cooperation between both countries.
The UK minister reaffirmed her country’s long-term commitment to Nigeria, expressing optimism that the next phase of the partnership would deliver greater opportunities for economic growth, investment and development for both nations.
