By Abdullahi Lukman
As Nigeria faces rising energy costs and escalating climate concerns, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Jonny Baxter, reiterated the UK’s commitment to promoting inclusive economic growth and sustainable development in the country.
Baxter made the remarks at the second edition of W.O.M.A.N by Alitheia, a forum focused on Women in Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Nutrition.
The event, held at his Lagos residence, was hosted by Alitheia Capital—a gender-lens private equity firm—in partnership with Manufacturing Africa, a UK government initiative aimed at attracting foreign investment to Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
Themed “Scaling Sustainable Manufacturing & Energy Transition for Women-led SMEs in Africa,” the forum gathered industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to discuss the critical role of women-led businesses in Africa’s green industrial transformation.
With surging fuel prices and electricity tariffs pressuring SMEs, discussions emphasized adopting renewable energy as both an environmental and economic necessity.
Related Posts
Alitheia Capital’s portfolio data showed that clean energy adoption can reduce operational costs by up to 60%, highlighting its financial benefits for scaling women-led enterprises.
Baxter emphasized the UK’s support for expanding capital access and capabilities to drive sustainable growth, calling the event a shared vision for inclusive development.
Alitheia Capital’s Co-Founder Tokunboh Ishmael underscored that sustainability is now an economic imperative, pointing to real cost savings in women-led businesses embracing clean energy.
The event featured keynotes and panels with CEOs and executives from leading companies in manufacturing and renewable energy.
Alitheia Capital also launched Nzinga, a capacity-building platform for SMEs, while Manufacturing Africa introduced the Green Business Building accelerator to foster green manufacturing and jobs.
The day concluded with knowledge sessions, exhibitions, and a call to action to enhance capital access, strengthen ecosystems, and support policies enabling inclusive green industrialization in Nigeria.
