President, Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja on Friday January 17 (today) to London to participate in the inaugural UK-Africa Investment Summit scheduled for Monday, January 20.
A statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Thursday, stated that the summit would be hosted by the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
The statement read in part: “the event is expected to bring together African leaders, international business chief executives and heads of international organisations to create new partnerships that will deliver more investments and jobs to the benefit of people and businesses in African countries and the United Kingdom.
“Apart from highlighting new perspectives on UK-Africa Partnership for Prosperity, issues of Sustainable Finance and Infrastructure; Trade and Investment; Future African Growth Sectors and Clean Energy and Climate, are expected to dominate presentations and discussions during the Summit.
“With the expected take-off of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in mid-2020, the London investment summit will provide Nigeria with the opportunity to project itself as a leading investment destination for new industries.
“In addition, the summit will deepen Nigeria-United Kingdom investment ties post-Brexit given that Africa currently represents just two per cent of British trade activity, with Nigeria accounting for only 10 per cent of that total.
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“While in the United Kingdom, President will meet with the Head of the Commonwealth, Prince Charles in Glasgow, Scotland.
“The President and his delegation will also have bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Johnson as well as heads of multilateral organisations.”
Accompanying the president to the summit are: Governors Yahaya Bello, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya and Okezie Ikpeazu of Kogi, Gombe and Abia States, respectively.
Also on the president’s entourage are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, and the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.
Others are the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno, and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
The President and his team are expected back in the country on Thursday, January 23, 2020.
