Key Initiatives / Announcements / Partnerships following UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s Visit to Nigeria
1. Nigeria and the UK signed a Security and Defence Partnership, the first between the two countries. The Partnership provides for the following:
Provision of equipment and training for the Nigerian military;
Launch of a £13 million education programme that will provide training for teachers, school equipment, and security for schools, for 100,000 children living in parts of the Northeast affected by Boko Haram;
Roll out a new crisis response mechanism for Nigeria, similar to the UK’s Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR) system;
A framework to strengthen policing, reduce piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, tackle organized crime, and tackle corruption;
Establishment of a new civil asset recovery task force will help Nigeria recover stolen assets held in Britain and stop criminals from using the UK as a safe haven for the proceeds of corruption;
Establishment of an enhanced human rights dialogue to ensure that collaborative efforts by both countries are in line with international human rights protocols;
Establishment of a regular forum for UK and Nigerian Ministers to meet and discuss solutions and responses to common security challenges and priorities.
2. Business/Economic Support:
Signed MoU for the launch of the UK-Nigeria Economic Development Forum.
One of the objectives of the Agreement is to set in motion plans for the establishment of a UK-Nigeria Bilateral Commission, which will oversee cooperation in trade and security and other matters of mutual benefit to both countries, as well as oversee bilateral meetings to be hosted interchangeably in the UK and Nigeria.
Launched a new programme that will support innovative businesses in Northeast Nigeria, with the goal of raising the incomes of 3 million people and helping create 100,000 jobs;
Launch of a new Innovation Partnerships in Nigeria, which will create linkages between UK and Nigerian tech professionals/innovators, and also provide opportunities for skills-building, education, access to investment to Nigerian innovators;
Launch of a UK-Africa FinTech partnership (Nigerian entrepreneurs will be connected with UK FinTech investors and business mentors, for financing and mentoring), alongside a dedicated £2 million Fund to support Nigerian innovators;
Launch of new initiatives to collaborate with and support the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Provision of up to £750 million in financing for Nigerian businesses buying British products, by UK Export Finance.
3. Other Highlights:
Launch of a 12-month skill sharing programme — ‘Legal Services are GREAT’ — which will bring UK and Nigerian legal professionals together to build capacity within the Nigerian legal industry.
Dangote Cement reiterated commitment to list on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
State House Press Release following Prime Minister May’s Visit to the State House (August 29, 2018):
State House Press Release: Speech by Vice President Osinbajo following event with British Secretary for Africa & International Development, Rt. Hon. Harriett Baldwin, at Ventures Platform Hub, Abuja:
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