ILORIN, Nigeria — The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, has praised Kwara State’s “remarkable” strides in gender equality and tech innovation following a three-day diplomatic mission to the state.
The visit, which concluded on Wednesday, was designed to deepen economic and security ties following President Bola Tinubu’s historic state visit to the United Kingdom in March.
From the halls of power in Ilorin to the tech hubs of the future, the envoy’s tour highlighted a shifting partnership focused less on traditional aid and more on trade, technology, and human rights.
A Laboratory for Women in Power
One of the most striking takeaways from the visit was Kwara’s rapid transformation in governance. Since 2019, the state has moved from having zero elected female officials to a cabinet where women now hold more than half of all positions.
“Governor AbdulRazaq’s commitment is remarkable,” Ms Lever said. “It is the kind of leadership the whole of Nigeria can look to as a model.”
The envoy spent significant time with the state’s First Lady, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, visiting a “Safe Haven” for vulnerable children and a Sexual Assault Referral Centre. The UK has provided four years of financial and technical support to the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum to combat gender-based violence.
From Shea to Sugar: Boosting Trade
Economic discussions focused on moving Kwara’s goods into British supermarkets. Under the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), some 3,000 Nigerian products—including shea, cashew, and sesame—can enter the UK duty-free.
The mission also highlighted the Manufacturing Africa programme, which is currently providing technical support to two local firms:
- Bespoke Design Concepts: Expanding furniture manufacturing.
- Bacita Sugar Company: Aiming to revive the state’s sugar industry and create thousands of jobs.
Kwara Tech Goes to London
The visit also looked toward the “digital economy”. At the Ilorin Innovation Hub, Ms Lever met with young entrepreneurs, announcing that the UK will support the hub’s participation in London Tech Week in June 2026.
The move is intended to connect Kwara’s burgeoning tech talent—particularly young women in coding—directly with international investors.
Security and Stability
Beyond trade and tech, the visit touched on the sober reality of security. When he met with the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, the deputy high commissioner reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to institutional strengthening and counter-terrorism.
This follows a new counter-drone defence pact signed during the President’s recent visit to London, as Nigeria seeks to modernise its response to rising insecurity.
As the envoy left, the message was clear: Kwara is being positioned as a strategic gateway for UK-Nigeria relations, demonstrating that reform at the state level can have a significant national impact.
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