The UK Government's Manufacturing Africa programme has marked a significant milestone in its six-year engagement with Nigeria's business community. British High Commissioner, Pete Vowles, and British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, recently joined business leaders, investors, and government representatives in Lagos to celebrate the programme's impact. The event highlighted the programme's contribution to strengthening Nigeria's investment ecosystem and unlocking capital for high-potential businesses.
Over the last six years, Manufacturing Africa has supported 23 successful investment deals in Nigeria, helping businesses mobilise more than $630 million in investment and create over 21,400 direct jobs. The programme has been instrumental in driving economic growth and job creation in the country. The event brought together leaders from across Nigeria's investment ecosystem, showcasing how stronger investor readiness and targeted business support can unlock investment at scale.
As part of the programme, a free digital resource called the Fundraising Toolkit was launched to help businesses become investor-ready and navigate the fundraising process. The toolkit draws on more than six years of UK-funded Manufacturing Africa investment facilitation experience across Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Senegal. It captures lessons from over 300 investment opportunities and over 70 financial closes, along with insights from more than 23 international investors.
The Fundraising Toolkit aims to provide practical guidance, investor insights, templates, and tools to help more Nigerian and African businesses access the capital they need to scale. Unlike theoretical fundraising guides, the toolkit is grounded in real transactions and reflects how investment deals are structured, negotiated, and closed across African markets. This resource is expected to be a game-changer for businesses looking to secure investment.
British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, expressed his delight in celebrating six years of the UK's Manufacturing Africa programme, recognising the 23 Nigerian businesses it has supported. He noted that the programme has demonstrated its contribution to economic growth, with the potential to create or safeguard over 21,400 direct jobs. Baxter emphasised the importance of the programme in mobilising investment and creating jobs.
British High Commissioner, Pete Vowles, also commented on the initiative, highlighting the importance of companies coming together to access commercial finance and grow their businesses. He expressed interest in hearing about the experiences of the businesses and how they plan to use the new toolkit to promote growth. Vowles emphasised that real success will be achieved when businesses use the toolkit to grow and promote other companies.
The Team Leader of Manufacturing Africa, Thomas Pascoe, noted that the launch of the Fundraising Toolkit marks an important milestone for the programme. He highlighted that the toolkit brings together practical fundraising experience, including tools, insights, and lessons that have helped businesses across the continent navigate the fundraising process and secure investment. Pascoe also celebrated the achievements of 23 Nigerian businesses that have successfully reached financial close with support from Manufacturing Africa.
Key points
- The UK Government's Manufacturing Africa programme has mobilised $630m in investment and created 21,400 jobs in Nigeria.
- The programme has supported 23 successful investment deals in Nigeria over the last six years.
- A free digital resource, the Fundraising Toolkit, has been launched to help businesses become investor-ready and navigate the fundraising process.
