Hundreds of new UK jobs as Nigerian companies confirm millions in investment

• Nigerian companies together with LemFi, Kuda, Moniepoint and Fidelity Bank broaden UK operations.
• Major enhance to North West economic system as Zenith Bank opens new Manchester department.
• Twinings Ovaltine opens £24 million Lagos manufacturing facility, forward of historic Nigerian State Visit this week.

Hundreds of new jobs are set to be created throughout the UK as Nigerian banks, fintech innovators and artistic trade companies scale up their operations in Britain.

The transfer will see millions invested into the UK economic system and reinforces the UK’s place as a number one international enterprise hub, backed by world‑class expertise, sturdy entry to capital, and a secure regulatory atmosphere – whereas showcasing Nigeria’s increasing position as a key supply of innovation and investment into the UK.

It comes as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, are set to start an historic State Visit on Wednesday, strengthening the UK’s place as a worldwide hub for African enterprise.

Thanks to the UK’s Trade and Industrial Strategies – mixed with commitments made by the UK–Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) – the federal government is attracting investment into key progress sectors together with monetary companies, expertise, schooling and superior manufacturing.

The Deputy Prime Minister held an ETIP reception yesterday at Kensington Palace, bringing collectively 180 senior representatives from authorities and trade to rejoice the breadth, depth, and continued progress of our commerce relationship throughout precedence sectors together with monetary companies, schooling, inventive industries, infrastructure and expertise. Florence Eshalomi, UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria, additionally addressed the group. 

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle stated:

The UK and Nigeria share a perception in the facility of enterprise, innovation and schooling to rework lives, and at the moment’s commitments present precisely that.

With Nigerian corporations creating jobs throughout the UK and British companies increasing into one of the world’s quickest rising markets, our partnership is strengthening each economies and delivering actual advantages for folks in each nations.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy stated:

The UK and Nigeria’s Strategic Partnership is bringing momentum and alternative to innovators in each our nations. We are lowering obstacles, creating jobs and opening new pathways for progress.

Growth is the core mission of this authorities and it underpins our relationship with Nigeria. I’m deeply proud that the cultural and industrial bonds between our nations are thriving and that each our companies and individuals are feeling the advantages of that.

Zenith Bank, one of Nigeria’s largest monetary establishments, opens its Manchester department at the moment [Tuesday 17 March] with the capability to create as much as 30 new direct jobs in a lift for the North West economic system. The financial institution can also be exploring a 2027 London Stock Exchange itemizing to deepen its UK market presence and unlock long-term funding for UK–Africa progress.

Fidbank plans to double its 62‑individual workforce in 2026 and add new capital, whereas the Fidelity Group makes London its international hub. FCMB has additionally chosen the UK as the primary worldwide vacation spot for its digital cross border funds platform, boosting commerce and investment flows between Africa and the remainder of the world. Seven Nigerian banks now function in the UK, supporting at the very least 1,000 jobs in whole.

Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji OON, Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank PLC stated:

The United Kingdom stays a key international monetary centre. The opening of Zenith Bank, Manchester, subsequently, marks one other essential milestone in our worldwide enlargement technique, enabling us to deepen relationships with our clients, assist commerce and investments, and join companies between Africa and the UK extra successfully.

Nigerian fintech investment can also be accelerating quickly:

• LemFi will make investments £100 million over the following 5 years as it designates London its international headquarters.
• Moniepoint plans to develop its London primarily based group to 100 workers in 2026, constructing the infrastructure that helps millions of African customers worldwide.
• Kuda Bank is strengthening its UK headquarters as the bottom for international enlargement and plans to double its UK footprint in 2026.

The UK’s fame as a worldwide inventive capital additionally continues to deepen ties by:

• EbonyLife, one of Nigeria’s main inventive trade manufacturers, will launch EbonyLife Place London, creating as much as 40 new jobs and strengthening the UK’s position as a house for African storytelling and artistic expertise.
• The SCALE Creative Entrepreneur Award Programme, developed by the British Council and supported by DBT, will assist younger Nigerian and UK inventive entrepreneurs to develop internationally and construct lasting ties to profit each the UK and Nigerian inventive economies.
• The UK Advertising Exports Group will announce a strategic partnership with the Nigerian promoting sector. This will embrace a UK-Nigeria Advertising Summit happening later this yr and a expertise trade scheme which is able to deepen bilateral engagement.
• The British Council and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy in Nigeria, will ship the UK/Nigeria Season of Culture in 2028, involving a variety of progressive initiatives and occasions designed by UK and Nigeria inventive organisations.
• A Creative Industries Roundtable at Lancaster House will deliver collectively alumni, Chevening students and artistic leaders from each nations.

The following British companies are additionally set to profit due to:

• Twining’s Ovaltine launching a £24 million manufacturing facility in Lagos, its first in Africa, creating over 100 direct jobs and boosting the corporate’s exports throughout West Africa.
• British fintech Wise will obtain approval for its first Nigerian licence, enabling it to broaden in a remittances market valued at as much as £39.9 million.
• The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has signed an settlement with Asset Green Ltd to discover a largescale built-in dairy venture that can strengthen Nigeria’s dairy worth chain, scale back reliance on imports and enhance vitamin.

Leading UK universities are additionally increasing into Nigeria, serving to practice the following technology of Nigerian and British scientists, technologists and innovators. Nigeria is a key schooling companion and a precedence nation for the UK’s International Education Strategy.

• The University of Birmingham and the University of Lagos have signed a new settlement to ship programmes in Applied AI, Digital Communications and Global Surgery.
• The LSE has launched a new Data Science partnership with Nile University of Nigeria alongside the University of the West of England opening a devoted workplace in Lagos.
• Wellington College International Lagos will open in 2027, providing locations for 1,500 college students – turning into one of West Africa’s flagship British curriculum faculties.
• EStars, a UK‑owned instructional esports and expertise firm, will companion with the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to ship esports‑primarily based digital studying programmes to round three million college students.

Notes to Editors:

• With bilateral commerce now at an all-time excessive of £8.1 billion a yr, the UK and Nigeria are exhibiting how nations develop sooner after they develop collectively.