British Prime Minister, Theresa May, will on Wednesday, August 29 meet with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja during her first-time visit to Africa as Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister will be visiting Nigeria as part of her first-time visit to three African countries since she resumed office. Other countries she has been scheduled to visit include South Africa and Kenya.

In a press statement by the British government, May will embark on the ambitious three-nation trip with senior British ministers and a business delegation made up of 29 representatives from UK business – half of which are SMEs – from across all regions of the UK and its devolved administrations.

The delegation that would embark on the trip, according to the statement, shows the breadth and depth of British expertise in technology, infrastructure, financial and professional services.

Expectations from May’s visit

The Prime Minister’s visit comes at a time of enormous change across Africa with a unique opportunity, as the United Kingdom moves towards Brexit, for a truly Global Britain to invest in and work alongside African nations, with mutual benefits.

The Prime Minister’s central message will be focused on a renewed partnership between the UK and Africa, which will seek to maximise shared opportunities and tackle common challenges in a continent that is growing at a rapid pace.

May is expected to visit Cape Town to set out how Britain can build this partnership side by side with Africa, particularly by bringing the transformative power of private sector trade and investment from the UK to a continent that is home to 16% of the world’s people but just 3% of FDI and 3% of global goods trade.

As Africa seeks to meet the needs of its growing population, the visit will also emphasise that it is in the world’s interest to help secure African stability, jobs and growth because conflict, poor work prospects and economic instability will continue to encourage migration and dangerous journeys to Europe.


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