Envoy Woos UK Investors

Ibrahim Chonoko, London

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Ishola, has called on investors in the UK to exploit the huge investment opportunities in Nigeria, saying “Nigeria’s consumer base offers limitless opportunities and infinite possibilities.” 

Speaking at this year’s Nigerian Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDIS) in London, Ishola said with a population of about 200 million people and a gross domestic product (GDP) of £400bn (four hundred billion pounds), the country remains the largest economy and “stands out as the prime destination for businesses and investments in Africa and beyond.” 

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The envoy also disclosed that the net worth of Nigerians living in the UK was about £70bn and urged Nigerians in Diaspora to invest in their country. 

He stated that the Nigerian government “is committed to fighting corruption, ensuring security and rebuilding the economy”, stressing that the anti-corruption war was yielding positive results, while the fight against insurgency in the northeast of the country “is beginning to produce unprecedented positive results.” 

In his remarks, Tim Morris, a former British Ambassador in Africa who spoke on behalf of Friends of Nigeria, made a forecast that the upcoming young, vibrant and professionals in Africa in various fields would change the fortunes of the continent for the better in the next few years, and pledged the group’s commitment to strengthen Nigeria-British relations and Africa in general.  

Daily Trust reports that the summit was attended by the governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akerredolu; Chairman of Nigeria Diaspora Commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Senator Lanre Tejuoso; investors and business owners in the UK and from Nigeria, among others.