The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Alan Yarrow, is to lead a business delegation to Abuja (6-7 October) and Lagos (7-8 October), Nigeria, helping to make sure London and the UK remain the regional partner of choice when it comes to financial and professional services.

Acting as ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services, the Lord Mayor will be meeting with senior members of the government, central bank, investment authorities, regulators and business leaders. Other notable events he will take part in include:

• Hosting a roundtable with Nigerian regulators on closer collaboration between the UK and Nigeria on Capital Markets.
• Witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (of which the Lord Mayor is Chairman) and the Chartered Institute of Bankers (Nigeria) at an ‘Integrity at Work’ seminar.
• Visiting the Lagos state light rail project.

Speaking ahead of his trip, Lord Mayor Alan Yarrow, said:

“There is a truly a burgeoning bilateral trade relationship between the UK and Nigeria. The more that we work closer with Nigeria, the richer this relationship will become. Investment by British companies in crucial Nigerian assets such as infrastructure, legal services, schools, renewables and project management will not only provide UK firms with challenging and interesting work but will also help foster next generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs.”

“I am hoping that my visit will help cement the strong commercial and economic ties between our two countries.”

Notes to editors

About the Lord Mayor of the City of London

• The Lord Mayor is head of the Square Mile’s City of London authority for one year and the position is unpaid and apolitical. It is an exceptionally demanding role. The Lord Mayor spends some 90 days abroad and addresses some 10,000 people face-to-face each month (making around 800 speeches a year).

• The Lord Mayor represents City businesses and helps the City Corporation advise the Government of the day on what is needed to help the financial services sector to function well. The Lord Mayor frequently travels to represent the City; and travels overseas with the status of a Cabinet Minister.

• The Lord Mayor meets several international Heads of Government and Business each month to discuss financial services, often in conjunction with senior City business representatives. The Lord Mayor lives in the Mansion House for the Mayoral year.