By Milton Tella – The Commonwealth Games, a colourful celebration of sport and human performance which has evolved dramatically since its beginnings in 1930 was an opportunity for Nigeria to reaffirm its relevance across the world.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games that took place from 28 July to 8 August 2022 featured thousands of world-class athletes and a global broadcast audience of over a billion.
Building on the cooperative spirit of the Commonwealth Games, Nigeria High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola joined other business and government leaders to discuss opportunities for international partnership and innovations for sustainable growth.
Ambassador Isola used the opportunity to connect with Commonwealth nations and territories and other key global markets.
His Excellency, Amb. Sarafa Tunji Isola was at the UK House in Birmingham for The Commonwealth Business Hub. During the Session on International Education Strategy at Birmingham on Friday 29th July, 2022, H.E Amb. Sarafa Tunji Isola – High Commissioner of Nigeria to UK representing foreign countries in the UK was on the centre stage with Joanna Newman – Chairman Association of Commonwealth Universities, Prof. Steve Smith – Prime Minister’s appointee as Champion of International Education, Prof. Adam Tickell – Vice Chancellor, University of Birmingham and Rupert Daniels of the Department of International Trade.
Led by the UK’s Department for International Trade and in partnership with the region’s official economic development agency, the West Midlands Growth Company, the event was a key part of the Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Programme (BATP) – the first economic legacy programme of its kind aligned to the Games, and the first to operate before and after a major sporting event.
International trade delegations from around the world were hosted at The Exchange in Birmingham. Visiting delegates brokered business relations with investment experts, government officials, thought leaders and SME.
Opportunities in one of the following seven sectors: Food and Drink, Education, Data-Driven Healthcare, Sports Economy, Creative and Digital Technologies, Future Mobility, and Tourism were fully explored.
On 28 July, a Commonwealth Business Forum at the nearby International Convention Centre saw business leaders from across the Commonwealth gather to develop future business relationships and discuss how to mutually support each other as they ‘build back better’ after the global pandemic.
Mike Freer MP, UK Minister for Exports at the Department for International Trade, said: “As an independent trading nation and global champion of free trade, the UK is driving growth by attracting international trade and investment from across the globe into our dynamic regions, while supporting business to thrive and build back better.
We see UK House as a unique opportunity to take advantage of the 33 trade deals we have with our Commonwealth members, to celebrate the power of friendship and sport and to broker more trade – just a stone’s throw away from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.”
Coinciding with UK House is the unique opportunity for businesses and investors to participate in exclusive West Midlands Sector Showcase Days, which includes site tours around the West Midlands.
Nigel Huddleston MP, Minister for Sport and Tourism at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: This major summit leverages the global profile of Birmingham 2022 to drive new trade and investment to the UK, helping to grow our economy and level up access to jobs and opportunities. We can’t wait to welcome international investors and policy makers to see the vast economic potential available on our shores.
Andy Street, Mayor of West Midlands, said: Here in the West Midlands, we have been attracting global attention as the UK’s leading foreign direct investment destination outside of London for four consecutive years.
I’m delighted to play host to ‘UK House’ – made possible by the Business and Tourism Programme which helped to secure – ensuring an economic legacy from the Games. We look forward to showcasing our cutting-edge innovation and extending a warm, sporting welcome to business and government leaders from across the Commonwealth.
The West Midlands’ economy is worth £157bn. It is officially recognised as the UK’s fastest growing technology sector and is leading world-class R&D in industries including future mobility, low carbon technologies and data-driven healthcare. Home to nine universities and three major UK cities – Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton – the West Midlands’ pro-business environment is supported by the leadership of the Mayoral led West Midlands Combined Authority.
The presence of the Nigeria High Commission London delegation led by His Excellency, Amb. Sarafa Tunji Isola among other members of the Diaspora community in the UK at the Games gave the Team Nigeria the necessary boost.
Nigeria was Africa’s most successful representative at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. They finished with the most gold medals on 12, and a combined haul of 35. This placed Nigeria in seventh place overall at the Games.
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