The UK Government’s Manufacturing Africa programme has supported 23 successful investment deals in Nigeria, helping businesses mobilise more than $630 million in investment and create or safeguard over 21,400 direct jobs over the past six years.

The figures were disclosed in Lagos on Tuesday during an event attended by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles, British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter, business leaders, investors, government representatives and development partners.

The event was organised to highlight the impact of the UK-funded programme on Nigeria’s investment ecosystem and its role in helping businesses access capital to expand their operations and create employment.

It also marked the launch of a Fundraising Toolkit, a free digital resource designed to help Nigerian and African businesses become investor-ready and navigate the fundraising process.

The toolkit provides practical guidance, investor insights, templates and other resources aimed at helping businesses strengthen their investment readiness and secure capital for expansion.

The programme draws on more than six years of investment facilitation experience across Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Senegal.

It incorporates lessons from more than 300 investment opportunities and over 70 financial closes, alongside insights from more than 23 international investors, including development finance institutions, private equity firms and impact investors.

Baxter said the 23 Nigerian businesses supported by the programme had collectively mobilised more than $630 million in investment, with the potential to create or safeguard more than 21,400 direct jobs.

He said the Fundraising Toolkit would preserve practical lessons from the programme and provide businesses with tools and connections to attract investment, raise capital and scale their operations.

Vowles said the programme had helped businesses understand how to access commercial finance and use investment to expand their operations.

Team Leader of Manufacturing Africa, Thomas Pascoe, said the 23 Nigerian businesses had successfully reached financial close with support from the programme, raising close to $630 million in total.

He said the toolkit was designed to make practical fundraising knowledge more accessible to businesses seeking to improve their investment readiness and attract capital.