The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, on Wednesday,
January 28, 2026, hosted a delegation from British International Investment (BII), led by its Chair, Ms. Diana Layfield, alongside the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Montgomery, as part of ongoing efforts to deepen financial sector reforms and attract long-term investment.
The Governor reaffirmed the CBN’s commitment to macroeconomic stability, credible monetary policy, and a transparent, data-driven regulatory framework aimed at
strengthening the resilience of the banking system and improving financial
intermediation.
Discussions focused on developments in the financial services sector, BII’s investment
outlook, and opportunities to deploy patient capital in support of banking sector
stability, financial inclusion, and sustainable private-sector growth.
The Governor noted that DFIs providing long-term capital and strong governance remain key partners in Nigeria’s reform agenda.
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 meeting was attended by members of BII’s Board and Executive Management,
including Mr. Leslie Maarsdorp, Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Andrew Alli, Non-
Executive Director; Mr. Simon Rowlands, Non-Executive Director; Mr. Chris
Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa; and Mr. Benson Adenuga, West
Africa Regional Director and Head of the Nigeria Office, alongside senior officials of
the British High Commission.
British International Investment is the UK’s development finance institution, wholly
owned by the UK Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office (FCDO), with total assets of £9.9 billion supporting over 1,600 businesses
across emerging markets.
