UK Deepens Science And Tech Partnership To Fuel Nigeria’s Economic Modernization

The United Kingdom has called for science, technology, and innovation to be positioned at the absolute center of Nigeria’s economic growth agenda to unlock sustainable job creation and global competitiveness. Speaking in Abuja on January 28, 2026, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, emphasized that the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership signed in 2024 has transitioned into a “partnership of equals.” The UK is currently engaging across

Nigeria’s entire innovation pipeline from early-stage grants for startups to large-scale commercial investments through British International Investment (BII). A key focus for 2026 is helping Nigerian businesses move from research and ideas into profitable, scalable enterprises that can compete on the global stage.

To support this shift, the UK government is funding the Sankore initiative, a £1.9 million program designed to strengthen the science and technology ecosystems in West Africa. Sankore is specifically assisting Nigeria in establishing its National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC) and facilitating the commercialization of research in critical sectors like agriculture and energy.

Additionally, London and Lagos have formally joined forces to create a “North-South tech highway,” linking the deep capital and regulatory maturity of London with the dynamic creativity and energy of the Lagos tech hub.

Beyond direct funding, the UK is working with Nigerian regulators to explore ways of unlocking domestic capital, particularly from pension funds, to support local tech businesses. Baxter noted that having brilliant research is insufficient without the systems to move ideas from universities into the real economy.

By providing technical support and improving the investment environment, the UK aims to help Nigeria leverage its youthful, tech-savvy population to become a structured and predictable investment destination. This collaboration is expected to contribute to Nigeria’s projected 4.49 percent GDP growth in 2026, solidifying the role of innovation as a primary engine for national prosperity.