David Olusegun

President Tinubu is currently on a State Visit to the UK (the first by a Nigerian leader in 37 years).  Bilateral trade between the UK and Nigeria has officially hit a record £8.1 billion as of March 2026—an 11.4% jump in just 12 months.  
The driver? A massive pivot toward "Commercial Reciprocity."  Nigeria is no longer just an oil exporter; it’s becoming a service and manufacturing hub for British firms looking to bypass Asian supply chain bottlenecks. The "Windsor Realignment" is here.

Here is why the Ovaltine £24 million factory is a total game-changer for the African CPG landscape: ✅ From Import-Led to Export-Driven: This is a full pivot away from high-cost imports toward a model built on local production and regional export. Lower costs. Better margins. More control. ✅ Lagos as the Ultimate Gateway: With its scale, port access, and consumer demand, Lagos isn’t just the destination. It’s the launchpad for West Africa. ✅ The AfCFTA Play: By manufacturing in Nigeria, they can leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area to reach ECOWAS markets with significantly lower tariffs and faster lead times. ✅ Economic Velocity: We’re looking at 100+ direct jobs with ripple effects across logistics, packaging, and retail. This is how real ecosystem growth happens. The narrative is shifting. Africa is no longer just a "frontier market" for global exports; it is becoming a global manufacturing engine.  Companies that wait for the "perfect time" to localise will find themselves priced out by the ones building the infrastructure today.

Me right now Enjoying this Arsenal Loss.

The US & the UK are the top two source countries for remittance inflows to Nigeria. The third is perhaps surprising — it’s Cameroon. In fact, Cameroon to Nigeria is the largest intra-African remittance corridor across the continent. Nigeria isn't just a top destination for intercontinental remittances — it's the dominant hub for intra-African flows too. Here's a look at the top five corridors: #1 - Cameroon to Nigeria #2 - Niger to Nigeria #3 - South Africa to Zimbabwe #4 - Nigeria to Ghana #5 (tie) - Ghana to Nigeria #5 (tie) - Benin to Nigeria In total, ~$20B in remittances are sent within Africa annually. And that's a significant prize that fintechs & banks across the continent and beyond are increasingly targeting. Just this week, for example, Tanzanian fintech @NALAmoney and British-Estonian money transfer platform @Wise both announced securing International Money Transfer Operator licenses from the Central Bank of Nigeria. --- Via Afridigest Intelligence — Cut through complexity & act with confidence in Africa's growth markets: afridigest.com/intelligence

British exporters get a major boost as the UK and Nigeria agree a £746 million deal to modernise key trading ports. Find out more about how government-backed finance is helping UK manufacturing to thrive on the global stage 👉 gov.uk/government/new…

“African Designers are Greedy” I saw a viral video a few weeks ago where a lady called out the industry, claiming that designers living on the continent have no business charging $10,000 and above. But here’s the reality: We are witnessing the birth of the African Luxury Renaissance. For too long, the world (and even our own) expected African craftsmanship to be cheap because it was "local." We celebrated European houses charging $50k for couture while expecting African artisans to work for peanuts. The idea that African excellence should be "affordable" by default is a mindset we need to outgrow. African fashion is an investment in art, heritage, and a thriving economy. Swipe through to see the real numbers behind the African fashion industry and why the "greedy" narrative just doesn't hold up statistically.

Britain and Nigeria announced a 746 million pound ($990.32 million) export finance deal on Thursday to fund the redevelopment of two of Nigeria's main trading ports. reuters.com/business/finan…

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority has signed a $500M deal with a UK firm to build a large-scale dairy facility. A clear push to cut imports and produce locally. More jobs, stronger supply chains, and a step toward food security.

The IMF’s latest report on African domestic debt is a double-edged sword: Governments get stable, but local businesses find it harder to get loans because banks are busy buying government bonds. If you were a founder in Lagos or Nairobi right now, where would you look for your next $100k?

The United Kingdom and Nigeria have unveiled investments and partnerships spanning manufacturing, fintech, agriculture and education, as trade between both countries hits a record £8.1 billion annually. At the heart of the new commitments is a major industrial investment in Lagos, where a British firm is set to establish its first manufacturing facility in Africa... Read more: businessday.ng/news/article/u…

@JohnFanimokun Huge win for the local economy! From 'Imported' to 'Made in Lagos'...100+ jobs and a £24M vote of confidence. This is how you build real growth.

In line with ongoing UK–Nigeria trade engagements, Twinings Ovaltine is set to establish a £24 million manufacturing facility in Lagos, a development expected to generate over 100 direct jobs while expanding its export reach across West Africa. This move underscores the strengthening investment ties between both countries and reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector. The planned facility will mark Ovaltine’s FIRST manufacturing footprint on the African continent, boosting local production capacity while supporting regional distribution.

Nigeria’s Zenith Bank is targeting a London Stock Exchange (LSE) listing by 2027, following its new Manchester branch opening. This move reinforces its status as Nigeria’s 2nd largest lender by market value and a key player in UK-Africa trade.

Senegal is our African champion 🇸🇳

Zenith Bank, Nigeria’s second-largest lender by market value, plans to list on the London Stock Exchange in 2027 to broaden access to capital and strengthen clients services. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Trophies are won on the pitch 🇸🇳⭐️⭐️

Tony Elumelu’s @HeirsEnergies just added global titan H.E. Badr Jafar to its board to oversee their 20% stake in Seplat Energy. Why this matters: Most oil companies just dig holes. Elumelu is building a power loop. ✅️ Extraction: Heirs/Seplat owns the gas. ✅️ Generation: Transcorp (Elumelu’s other giant) turns that gas into electricity. ✅️ Finance: UBA (his bank) processes the payments. By bringing in Badr Jafar (a UAE energy heavyweight), Heirs gains massive leverage with Middle Eastern investors. It’s no longer just a local company; it’s a global energy sovereign.

@FabrizioRomano The Afcon champions we know

African beauty and personal care is a $10B+ market. It is growing at an annual rate of 8%. It is served largely by global brands that don't understand African skin, African hair, or African consumers. The whitespace for founder-led, African-built brands is enormous. This is not a niche. This is an asset class.