Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, has applauded the ongoing economic reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu, saying they will open up new opportunities for Nigerians.
Montgomery, who described the reforms as “bold, brave and positive”, made the remarks during a courtesy visit to Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, at State House, Abuja, on Monday.
The reforms, he said, are already leading to enhanced trade partnerships between the two nations, although he did not provide further details.
The British High Commissioner added: “The UK government sees a lot of positivity in Nigeria’s economy, particularly the new opportunities being created by the difficult but necessary reforms undertaken by President Bola Tinubu.”
He also noted that his government is impressed by the track record of the Renewed Hope Initiative as a special purpose vehicle delivering empowerment to women in key areas, particularly education, health, and humanitarian services.
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Montgomery further observed that the UK government is paying attention to the ongoing constitutional amendment and the call for special seats for women in the National Assembly.
In her response, Oluremi Tinubu assured her guests that the government and the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), which aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, will continue to work towards addressing the challenges faced by Nigerians.
“I believe we can help each other if we really show concern,” she said, adding that “RHI also focuses on women empowerment in the informal sector. These are the ones whose lives we are directly touching.”
She acknowledged that the number of women in the National Assembly is dwindling and pledged to support ongoing efforts to improve female representation.
“We have to really know the right people to represent us, who can truly do the work, and that is what we have to enlighten our women about,” she said.
