UK launches £12.4m Economic Programmes to Support Nigeria’s Reform Agenda

The British High Commission in Abuja has introduced two key initiatives—the Nigeria Economic Stability & Transformation (NEST) programme and the Nigeria Public Finance Facility (NPFF)—to reinforce the United Kingdom’s sustained partnership with Nigeria’s economic growth plans.

Backed by a £12.4 million UK investment, the programmes form a central part of the bilateral growth partnership. They are designed to assist Nigeria in enhancing macroeconomic stability, building fiscal resilience, and fostering a more competitive climate for investment and private-sector development.

At the launch event, Cynthia Rowe, Head of Development Cooperation at the High Commission, stated that the programmes reflect “a shared commitment to strengthening the fundamentals that matter most for our stability, confidence, and long-term growth.”

The unveiling followed the first meeting of the Joint UK-Nigeria Steering Committee, which approved the direction of both initiatives and confirmed mutual alignment on key priorities.

Representing the Nigerian government, Presidential Special Adviser on Finance and the Economy, Sanyade Okoli, welcomed the support: “At a time when we are implementing critical reforms… this partnership will provide valuable technical support.” She described it as a step toward “a more resilient economy that delivers sustainable development and improved livelihoods for all Nigerians.”

British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, emphasized that “NEST and NPFF are central to our shared approach to strengthening the foundations that underpin long-term economic prosperity.”

Senior officials from Nigerian finance and economic institutions, alongside international development partners, attended the launch.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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