Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has held meetings in London with stakeholders in British politics and the business community, including Jonathan Marland, as part of discussions aimed at exploring trade and investment opportunities for Nigeria.
Obi disclosed that his meeting with Lord Marland, Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, focused on prospective trade partnerships, economic advancement and strategies for promoting small businesses across Nigeria.
According to Obi, sustainable economic growth and large-scale job creation require deliberate support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which he described as critical drivers of national development.
Drawing comparisons with rapidly developing economies such as China, Indonesia and Vietnam, Obi stressed the importance of prioritising MSME development as a pathway to industrial expansion and employment generation.
He reiterated his longstanding position that Nigeria’s MSMEs remain central to economic transformation and should receive stronger institutional and financial support, particularly in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
The former Anambra State governor added that strengthening small businesses would not only accelerate economic growth but also expand employment opportunities for millions of Nigerians.
Obi expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, maintaining that a “new and revitalised Nigeria” remains achievable through productive economic reforms and sustained support for enterprise development.
