The UK Government's Manufacturing Africa programme has celebrated its impact in Nigeria, with British High Commissioner Pete Vowles and British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter joining business leaders and government representatives in Lagos. The programme has supported 23 successful investment deals in Nigeria, helping businesses mobilise over $630 million in investment and create more than 21,400 direct jobs. This achievement demonstrates the programme's contribution to strengthening Nigeria's investment ecosystem.
The event highlighted the programme's role in unlocking capital for high-potential businesses to grow, expand operations, and create employment. A new Fundraising Toolkit was launched, a free digital resource developed by Manufacturing Africa to help businesses become investor-ready and navigate the fundraising process with confidence. The toolkit aims to provide practical guidance, investor insights, templates, and tools to help Nigerian and African businesses access the capital they need to scale.
The Fundraising Toolkit draws on over 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 70 financial closes, along with insights from 23 international investors, including Development Finance Institutions, private equity firms, and impact investors. This resource is grounded in real transactions and reflects how investment deals are structured, negotiated, and closed across African markets.
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's legacy includes the Fundraising Toolkit, which will continue to equip Nigerian businesses with the tools, insights, and connections they need to attract investment, raise capital, and scale. Baxter emphasised the programme's contribution to economic growth and the UK-Nigeria relationship.
British High Commissioner Pete Vowles highlighted the importance of companies coming together to access commercial finance and grow their businesses. He expressed interest in hearing how businesses plan to use the new toolkit to promote growth and create opportunities for other companies. Vowles noted that real success will be achieved when businesses use the toolkit to grow and promote their activities.
Thomas Pascoe, Team Leader of Manufacturing Africa, said the launch of the Fundraising Toolkit marks an important milestone for the programme. He noted that the toolkit brings together over six years of practical fundraising experience, including tools, insights, and lessons that have helped businesses across the continent navigate the fundraising process and secure investment. Pascoe celebrated the achievements of 23 Nigerian businesses that have successfully reached financial close with support from Manufacturing Africa.
The programme's ambition is to make the practical resource accessible to more businesses, helping them strengthen their investment readiness, engage investors with greater confidence, and unlock the capital they need to grow. With the Fundraising Toolkit, Manufacturing Africa aims to support more Nigerian and African businesses in accessing the capital required to scale and create jobs, driving economic growth and development across the continent.
Key points
- The UK Government's Manufacturing Africa programme has mobilised $630m in investment and created 21,400 jobs in Nigeria.
- The programme has launched a Fundraising Toolkit to help businesses become investor-ready and navigate the fundraising process.
- The toolkit draws on over six years of investment facilitation experience across six African countries.
