TO further cement their relationship with the Nigerian community, British High Commissioner, Pete Vowles and British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter, Tuesday, joined business leaders, investors, government representatives and development partners in Lagos to celebrate the impact of the UK Government’s Manufacturing Africa programme in Nigeria.

Over the last six years, Manufacturing Africa has supported 23 successful investment deals in Nigeria, helping businesses mobilise more than $630 million in investment and create over 21,400 direct jobs.

The event highlighted the programme’s contribution to strengthening Nigeria’s investment ecosystem and unlocking capital for high-potential businesses to grow, expand operations and create employment.

The event also marked the launch of the Fundraising Toolkit, a free digital resource developed by Manufacturing Africa to help businesses become investor-ready and navigate the fundraising process with confidence.

Bringing together practical guidance, investor insights, templates and tools, the platform aims to help more Nigerian and African businesses access the capital they need to scale.

Bringing together leaders from across Nigeria’s investment ecosystem, the event showcased how stronger investor readiness and targeted business support can unlock investment at scale, driving economic growth and job creation across the country.

The toolkit draws on more than six years of UK-funded Manufacturing Africa investment facilitation experience across Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Senegal. It captures lessons from more than 300 investment opportunities and over 70 financial closes, along with insights from more than 23 international investors, including Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), private equity firms, and impact investors.

Unlike theoretical fundraising guides, every framework, template, and recommendation in the toolkit is grounded in real transactions and reflects how investment deals are structured, negotiated and closed across African markets.

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

“The Fundraising Toolkit we launched tonight is one of the programme’s most important legacies. 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.

“I’m proud of what we have achieved together. 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”

On his part, Vowles said: “It’s great to see companies coming together, figuring out how to access commercial finance, so they can then grow their businesses. 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.”

Team Leader, Manufacturing Africa, Thomas Pascoe, said: “The launch of the Fundraising Toolkit marks an important milestone for Manufacturing Africa. It brings together more than six years of practical fundraising experience, including the tools, insights and lessons that have helped businesses across the continent navigate the fundraising process and secure investment.

“We are also celebrating 23 Nigerian businesses that have successfully reached financial close with support from Manufacturing Africa, raising close to US $630 million in total.

Their achievements demonstrate what is possible when businesses have access to the right tools, guidance and connections to capital. Many of the approaches that supported these fundraising journeys are now captured in the Toolkit, a first-of-its-kind resource in Africa.

“Our ambition is to make this practical resource accessible to more businesses, helping them strengthen their investment readiness, engage investors with greater confidence and unlock the capital they need to grow.”