UK Investors Pledge More Support for Nigerian Banks
By Patience Ikpeme
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, met with leaders from British International Investment (BII) on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, to discuss ways to bring more long-term money into Nigeria’s economy.
The visiting team was led by the Chair of BII, Ms. Diana Layfield, and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Montgomery.
The meeting focused on how to make Nigeria’s banks stronger and how to ensure that more Nigerians have access to financial services. BII is a special organization owned by the UK government that supports businesses in growing countries.
They discussed using “patient capital”—which is money invested for a long time—to help private businesses in Nigeria grow steadily.
During the talks, Governor Cardoso said that the CBN is working hard to keep the economy stable and ensure that the rules for banking are clear and based on real facts.
He noted that partners like BII, who bring in long-term funds and follow good business rules, are very important for the country’s progress.
“The Governor noted that DFIs providing long-term capital and strong governance remain key partners in Nigeria’s reform agenda,” the statement from the meeting revealed.
Ms. Layfield shared that BII is still very interested in putting money into Nigeria’s financial sector. She explained that for big investments to happen, the government must keep making the rules easy to understand and continue talking with investors.
“Ms. Layfield reaffirmed BII’s continued interest in Nigeria’s financial services sector, emphasising the importance of regulatory clarity and sustained engagement to support investment and inclusive growth,” the report stated.
BII is a massive organization with assets worth about £9.9 billion and it already supports over 1,600 businesses around the world. In Nigeria, they are already helping many companies in areas like farming and power. By working closely with the CBN, they hope to help more Nigerian businesses succeed and create more jobs for the people.
The meeting was also attended by top bosses from BII and senior officials from the British High Commission, showing that both Nigeria and the UK are serious about building a stronger business relationship.
