President Muhammadu Buhari will today depart Abuja for London to participate in the inaugural UK-Africa investment summit scheduled for Monday.
The President’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, said the summit is expected to bring African leaders, international business chief executives, heads of international organisations together “to create new partnerships that will deliver more investments and jobs” in Africa and the UK.
“Apart from highlighting new perspectives on UK-Africa Partnership for Prosperity, issues of Sustainable Finance and Infrastructure; Trade and Investment; Future African Growth Sectors and Clean Energy and Climate,
are expected to dominate presentations and discussions during the Summit.
“With the expected take-off of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in mid-2020, the London investment summit will provide Nigeria with the opportunity to project itself as a leading investment destination for new industries.
“In addition, the summit will deepen Nigeria-United Kingdom investment ties post-Brexit given that Africa currently represents just two percent of British trade activity, with Nigeria accounting for only 10 percent of that total.
“The Nigerian delegation to the investment meeting will further showcase what the Federal Government has done through policies and legislations to improve the investment and business climate in the country,” Adesina said.
According to the statement, Buhari will also hold a meeting with Prince Charles, head of the Commonwealth, in Glasgow, Scotland, as well as a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and heads of multilateral organisations.
Among the Governors that will accompany the President are Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Muhammad Yahaya (Gombe) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).
The Ministers on the trip are Geoffrey Onyeama (Foreign Affairs), Nìyí Adebayo (Industry, Trade and Investment) and Zainab Ahmed (Finance, Budget and National planning).
Others are the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar.
The President is expected back in Abuja next Thursday.