The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever OBE, has concluded a three-day visit to Kwara State aimed at strengthening the United Kingdom’s partnership with Nigeria at the subnational level.
The visit, which took place from May 11 to 13, featured engagements with the Kwara State Government, civil society organisations, religious leaders, youth innovators and women groups.
During the visit, Lever met with Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, as well as the First Lady, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq.
She also visited the Ilorin Innovation Hub, participated in a radio interview on Diamond 88.8 FM, and paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
According to the British High Commission, the visit builds on the outcomes of President Bola Tinubu’s State Visit to the United Kingdom in March 2026, which strengthened bilateral cooperation in trade, security and investment.
During discussions with Governor AbdulRazaq, the Deputy High Commissioner explored opportunities for deeper economic collaboration and job creation in Kwara State.
She highlighted the UK’s Manufacturing Africa programme, which currently supports two Kwara-based companies — Bespoke Design Concepts and Bacita Sugar Company — through technical assistance aimed at attracting investment and expanding operations.
Lever also promoted the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which provides duty-free or near duty-free access to the UK market for about 3,000 Nigerian products, including shea, sesame and cashew.
She encouraged the state government to create awareness among local farmers, cooperatives and exporters to enable them maximise the opportunities provided by the scheme.
The Deputy High Commissioner also held discussions with the First Lady on women’s economic empowerment, the Special Seats Bill and efforts to combat violence against women and girls.
As part of the visit, she toured the Olufolake Safe Haven and the Sexual Assault Referral Centre at Sobi Specialist Hospital in Ilorin, where she received briefings on services provided for vulnerable children and survivors of gender-based violence.
The British High Commission noted that the visits reflected the UK’s continued support for safeguarding initiatives, access to justice and stronger protection systems for women and children.
Lever also commended Kwara State’s progress in promoting women’s participation in governance, noting that women now occupy more than half of cabinet positions in the state.
At the Ilorin Innovation Hub, she met with young entrepreneurs and technology innovators, particularly women, and announced UK support for the Hub’s participation in London Tech Week scheduled for June 2026.
The visit also included a meeting with the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, where discussions focused on security trends and UK support for preventive security and institutional strengthening initiatives.
Speaking at the end of the visit, Lever praised the state government’s commitment to reforms and inclusion.
“Kwara has given us the warmest of welcomes, and it has been genuinely inspiring to see a state that is not just talking about change but delivering it,” she said.
She particularly commended Governor AbdulRazaq’s efforts in promoting women’s representation in governance and expressed optimism about the future of young innovators in the state.
Reporting By Chioma Ezike