*Launches working technical group The United Kingdom (UK) and Nigeria have deepened their bilateral ties to enhance trade, foster innovation, promote cross-border creative collaborations, and drive sustainable economic growth and development. The Charge d’Affaires of the British High Commission in Abuja, Gill Lever OBE, highlighted Nigeria as the UK’s second-largest trading partner in Africa, as total trade in goods and services between both countries reached £7.8 billion in 2023, up from £6.
9 billion in 2022. Lever also emphasised that the UK remains one of the largest foreign investors in Nigeria, with investments spanning key sectors such as energy, finance, and retail sectors and recently expanding into the creative industries. Speaking last weekend at the official opening of The Body Shop retail stores in Abuja, the envoy noted that the UK’s Department for Business and Trade has identified Nigeria as a high-growth market.
She highlighted the country’s young and dynamic population of over 200 million people and its rapidly expanding middle class as key factors driving economic opportunities. Lever described The Body Shop’s arrival in Nigeria as a testament to the strength of UK-Nigeria trade relations and the immense potential of the Nigerian market. According to her, the brand, founded in the UK in 1976, has been a pioneer in promoting ethical consumerism, fair trade, and environmental sustainability.
Lever further stated that the UK’s Developing Countries .
