Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has lauded Nigeria’s contributions to global development, describing the country as a vital partner in areas ranging from culture to technology. Speaking at the 2025 Imo State Economic Summit in Owerri on Thursday, Johnson even joked that Nigeria had “sent the UK a future prime minister in the form of Kemi Badenoch.”
Nigeria’s Global Impact
Johnson contrasted Britain’s exports of pharmaceuticals and automotive parts with Nigeria’s wide-ranging contributions, including oil and gas, Nollywood films, medical professionals, technicians, and tech innovators. He celebrated the “ties of history and language” that bind the two nations, strengthened by the constant exchange of people and ideas.
“We send you former United Kingdom prime ministers, and you send us future United Kingdom prime ministers in the form of Kemi Badenoch, who comes from Nigeria and is doing better and better these days,” Johnson said.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s cultural influence: a Nigerian singer who performed at King Charles’ coronation, footballers with global fan bases in the Premier League, artists featured at London’s Tate Modern, and Anglo-Nigerian films earning Oscar nominations.
Looking Ahead: AI and Clean Energy
Turning to the future, Johnson emphasized the transformative role of artificial intelligence. “What is the future? It is AI. It’s gonna be AI,” he declared, warning that the demand for clean, sustainable electricity to power AI systems would be “colossal.”
He praised Governor Hope Uzodimma’s efforts in security and infrastructure, and congratulated Imo State for its push toward renewable energy. Johnson urged British firms to seize opportunities in Nigeria’s energy sector, calling it “a very important opportunity.”
High-Level Attendance
The summit drew an impressive roster of global leaders and business figures. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, while Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon also attended. Among the business leaders present were Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, and Benedict Oramah, former president of Afreximbank.
Johnson concluded by affirming that while Imo State has a “fantastic future,” Nigeria’s “great days lie ahead.”
