London, United Kingdom – 6 February 2026 – The Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) successfully convened the maiden edition of the NBCC Economic Outlook UK in London.
The event which took place on Friday, February 6th, 2026 brought together senior policymakers, economists, financial institutions, and private sector leaders of the Nigeria-UK business community to examine the theme: Nigeria-UK 2026 Economic Direction: Stability, Growth and Private Sector Outlook.
Hosted in partnership with the Institute of Directors (IoD Africa Group, with FirstBank UK as Headline Sponsor and supported by DCSL Corporate Services Ltd. and Access Bank UK, the landmark forum provided a high-level platform for strategic dialogue on macroeconomic reforms, investment climate developments, trade expansion, and the evolving role of the private sector in strengthening bilateral economic relations.
In his welcome address, Prince Abimbola Olashore, President and Chairman of Council, NBCC, reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to deepening commercial ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He stated that ‘This forum provides an important platform to examine where stability is emerging, where growth opportunities lie, and how the private sector can act as the engine for sustainable and mutually beneficial development between our two economies.’
The event featured distinguished special guests, including Florence Eshalomi MP, Labour Member of Parliament for Vauxhall & Camberwell Green and UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria, and H.E. Ms. Macenje “Che Che” Mazoka, Zambian High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador to the Holy See and Ireland, whose goodwill messages laid emphasis on the strategic importance of Africa-UK economic partnerships. Other special guests in attendance include High Commissioners from Algeria, Ethiopia, and Ghana High Commissions to the United Kingdom.
Insightful keynote presentations were delivered by Dr. Yemi Kale, Group Chief Economist and Managing Director, Research & Trade Intelligence at Afreximbank, and Razia Khan, Head of Research and Chief Economist, Africa & Middle East at Standard Chartered Bank. Both speakers provided forward-looking analyses on Nigeria’s macroeconomic reforms, inflation trajectory, foreign exchange stability, growth projections, and Africa’s positioning within a shifting global economic landscape. The UK Department for Business and Trade was ably represented by Robert Lally -Africa Lead, Economic Security and Trade Relations who gave an overview of the current policy and trade framework.
The panel discussion which was steered by Mrs. Awuneba Ajumogobia further enriched the dialogue, with contributions from Steven Lynch MBE, Director of International Trade at the British Chambers of Commerce; Sabila Din, CEO and Founder of DIN Consultants; and Olukorede Adenowo, Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank UK. Discussions were hinged on practical strategies for expanding trade flows, improving access to finance, strengthening regulatory clarity, mitigating risk, and accelerating private sector-led growth between Nigeria and the UK.
This forum marked an important milestone in advancing structured economic engagement in the UK and reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to sustaining momentum through continued dialogue and partnership development.
The strong participation of key stakeholders across the UK-Nigeria business corridor reaffirmed the relevance of the NBCC as a leading platform for bilateral trade advocacy, investment facilitation, and private sector collaboration.
The Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce extends its sincere appreciation to its partners, sponsors, speakers, and attendees for contributing to the success of this inaugural Economic Outlook UK. The Chamber looks forward to building on the outcomes of this event to further strengthen economic cooperation and unlock new opportunities for growth in 2026 and beyond.
