The UK Government-backed Manufacturing Africa programme has supported 23 Nigerian businesses in reaching financial close on investments worth more than $630 million, transactions with the potential to create or safeguard over 21,400 direct jobs, the programme announced on Monday, September 22, 2026.

The figures were disclosed at an event in Lagos attended by British High Commissioner Pete Vowles, British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter, business leaders, investors, government representatives and development partners.

The programme, funded by the UK Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, has worked with Nigerian businesses since 2019 to improve investment readiness and connect them with capital.

“I am delighted to celebrate six years of the UK’s Manufacturing Africa programme and recognise the 23 Nigerian businesses it has supported,” Baxter said. “Together, these transactions have mobilised more than $630m in investment and have the potential to create or safeguard over 21,400 direct jobs, demonstrating the programme’s contribution to economic growth.”

In Nigeria, Manufacturing Africa has supported 72 investment opportunities since its establishment, with 23 reaching financial close. The programme said the transactions form part of a broader effort to help businesses expand operations, attract capital and generate employment. Emma Sauvanet, senior programme manager at Manufacturing Africa, noted that the programme has supported more than 60 Nigerian businesses across Lagos, Kano, Enugu and Jos, spanning agro-processing, waste recycling, e-mobility and pharmaceuticals.

The event also marked the launch of a free digital Fundraising Toolkit designed to help businesses prepare for fundraising, engage investors and navigate the process of securing capital. The resource brings together practical guidance, investor insights, templates and a searchable investor directory based on Manufacturing Africa’s experience supporting businesses across African markets.

“The Fundraising Toolkit we launched tonight is one of the programme’s most important legacies,” Baxter said. “It captures practical lessons from these success stories and will continue to equip Nigerian businesses with tools, insights, and connections they need to attract investment, raise capital and scale, long after the programme has ended.”

The toolkit draws on more than six years of investment facilitation across Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Senegal. It incorporates lessons from more than 300 investment opportunities and over 70 financial closes, with insights from more than 23 international investors, including development finance institutions, private equity firms and impact investors. Unlike theoretical fundraising guides, the programme said every framework, template and recommendation is grounded in real transactions and reflects how deals are structured, negotiated and closed across African markets. The toolkit is available free of charge online.

Thomas Pascoe, Team Leader of Manufacturing Africa, said the 23 Nigerian companies that reached financial close raised close to $630 million, demonstrating the role of investment readiness, professional guidance and access to capital in helping businesses secure financing. “Their achievements demonstrate what is possible when businesses have access to the right tools, guidance and connections to capital,” he said.

Baxter said the investment facilitation work was also strengthening commercial ties between Nigeria and the UK. “By supporting businesses to unlock investment, expand operations and create jobs, this partnership is strengthening the UK-Nigeria relationship and creating opportunities for long-term growth in both our countries,” he said.

Vowles pointed to the importance of helping businesses move from identifying potential sources of finance to actually accessing commercial capital. “It’s great to see companies coming together, figuring out how to access commercial finance, so they can then grow their businesses,” he said. “I’m really interested to hear what they have done and how they are going to use the new toolkit to continue and promote what they are doing for other companies to grow their businesses, because that would be where we get real success.”