Nigeria-UK 2026 Economic Direction  Stability, Growth & Private Sector Outlook

Dr. Yemi Kale is a globally respected economist and executive leader with over 25 years of experience shaping Africa’s economic, trade, and development agenda. He currently serves as Group Chief Economist and Managing Director, Research and Trade Intelligence at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), providing strategic thought leadership across more than 50 African countries.

Previously, Dr. Kale was Partner and Chief Economist at KPMG West Africa, a Senior Adviser at the World Bank, and CEO/Statistician-General of Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, where he led the landmark GDP rebasing that positioned Nigeria as Africa’s largest economy and modernised national data systems.

His career also spans senior roles at Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, and Stanbic IBTC, covering global finance, investment research, and economic advisory. Dr. Kale is a widely sought-after keynote speaker, holds advanced degrees from the London School of Economics, and serves on multiple boards and advisory councils across Africa.

(Labour Member of Parliament for Vauxhall & Camberwell Green, UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria)

Florence Eshalomi is the UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria, dedicated to strengthening trade and investment ties between both nations. As a Member of Parliament and an advocate for international business collaboration, she plays a pivotal role in fostering economic partnerships that drive sustainable growth.

With her extensive experience in policy-making, trade facilitation, and business development, Florence is committed to unlocking new opportunities for businesses across various sectors, including the creative industry. Her work focuses on enhancing bilateral trade, supporting investment initiatives, and creating strategic frameworks that enable businesses to thrive in global markets.

Zambian High Commissioner to the UK / Ambassador, Holy See and Ireland.

H.E. Ms. Macenje “Che Che” Mazoka is a seasoned communications professional and diplomat with over three decades of experience spanning executive leadership, business development, strategy, partnerships, education, technical operations, and broadcast media. Her career has encompassed strategic negotiations, advocacy, social justice, NGO engagement, board leadership, fundraising, and team management.

Prior to her diplomatic appointment, she served as Head of Regional Communications and Stakeholder Relations at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), having earlier established and led its Corporate Funding and Partnerships Department. Her tenure at SABC also included policy development and the mobilisation of strategic financial and non-financial partnerships.

Ms. Mazoka began her media career at the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and later worked with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in Washington DC and New York. She spent eight years as a lecturer, teaching Media Literacy and Media Ethics at graduate level.

She holds a BA in Broadcast Journalism, a Master’s in Media Management, and an Executive Management Development Certificate. She serves on several global boards and represents Africa on the Commonwealth Board of Governors’ Executive Committee.

Olukorede Adenowo (K.O) is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at FirstBank UK, bringing over 39 years of leadership experience in banking, finance, and consulting.

His career spans senior roles across multiple African markets, including Gambia, Senegal, Cameroon, and Nigeria, where he led corporate, commercial, and institutional banking divisions.

Before joining FirstBank UK, he served as CEO of Standard Chartered Nigeria, guiding strategic transformation and overseeing regional growth.

A Chartered Accountant recognised with the 2015 Deloitte Distinguished Alumni Award, he also holds an MBA from Lagos Business School and has attended executive programmes at INSEAD and the Said Business School.

At FirstBank UK, he is known for his strategic vision, operational discipline, and commitment to organisational excellence.

Razia has over two decades of experience covering emerging and frontier markets. She is a well-known commentator on Africa and the Middle East and provides regular updates to central banks, finance ministries, institutional investors and corporates in the region. Razia currently serves as a trustee of Save the Children UK. She previously served on South Africa’s Presidential Economic Advisory Council (2022-24) and as a trustee of the Royal Africa Society (2012-24). She received the African Banker Icon Award 2024 for her contribution to macroeconomic research, and was named one of the ‘100 most influential Africans’ by New African magazine (2015). Razia holds BSc and MSc (Econ) degrees from the London School of Economics.

Since 2021, Rob Lally has led the UK Government’s trade and investment policy work covering the continent of Africa. As well as implementing a number of trade agreements across Africa, Rob was the main architect behind the UK-Nigeria UK Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership, signed in 2024. Rob has worked in both the public and private sector in his 35 year career and has always focussed on international trade, including working overseas in South Korea and Vietnam.

Sabila is the Founder of Din Consultants, an inclusive growth advisory and investor relations consultancy. She is a senior financial services executive with over 30 years of global experience across more than 35 markets, with deep expertise in wealth management, family offices, insurance, retail banking, and development finance.

She has advised Tier 1 global private and consumer banks on customer-centric growth and digital innovation. A recognised global authority on gender finance, Sabila has played a pivotal role in mobilising gender contribution to economic growth through policy reform, gender-lens investing, capital markets development, strategic partnerships, and digital innovation.

She has designed and delivered 12 gender capacity-building programmes with IFC, supporting banks across Africa and Central Asia, led the development of Gender-Smart Masterclass for the European Investment Bank, engaging senior leaders from over 40 European banks. Sabila is a former senior management team member of ABN AMRO Asia, held an advisory board role for the London Institute of Banking & Finance and was Chair of the IoD City Financial Services Group.

She is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of World Traders, and is a regular contributor to the Lafferty Retail Banking Africa Council and WealthBriefing.

Director, International Trade, British Chambers of Commerce.

Steven Lynch MBE is the Director of International Trade at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), where he leads the organisation’s global trade strategy across a network of 51 UK Chambers and 75 international Chambers worldwide. His portfolio spans export growth, market access, global partnerships, and the development of next-generation trade programmes.

In this role, Steven is spearheading two major initiatives: The Diplomatic Advisory Hub (DAH), a joint FCDO–BCC platform providing UK businesses with real-time geopolitical, regulatory, and market intelligence; and the Trade Accelerator programme, a flagship public–private model designed to fast-track high-potential UK scale-ups into priority global markets. The first pilot, focused on Singapore’s life sciences and health-tech sector, will serve as a blueprint for future corridors across Southeast Asia, Africa, India, the Gulf, the United States, and China.

Steven was awarded an MBE in His Majesty the King’s 2024 New Year Honours List for services to the British business community in China, following 12 years as Managing Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in China. He brings deep expertise in international business, public policy, and strategic government engagement.