UK-Nigeria £7.8bn Trade Ties Boosted With Body Shop Launch

The United Kingdom (UK) has unveiled The Body Shop in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen trade relations with the country, which reached £7.8 billion in 2023. These efforts aim to boost businesses and create jobs in Nigeria.

The Body Shop International Limited, trading as the Body Shop, is a British cosmetics, skincare, and perfume company founded in 1976 by Anita Roddick, who opened her first store in Brighton, England.

The official launch of The Body Shop Nigeria coincided with events marking International Women’s Day, as stakeholders gathered on Saturday to witness this epoch-making event in the Nigerian capital.

Speaking ahead of the launch on Friday in Abuja, Gill Lever, Charge’d Affairs of the British High Commission in Nigeria, said the occasion is not only for The Body Shop as a pioneering UK brand but also for the growing economic partnership between the UK and Nigeria.

According to the British envoy, the launch will enhance the flourishing UK—Nigeria ties. Their total trade in goods and services was valued at £7.8 billion in 2023, an increase from £ 6.9 billion in 2022.

The Abuja Body Shop is the first of the beauty brand outlets in West Africa, even as the UK envoy said Nigeria has been identified as a high-growth market, stressing that her country remains Nigeria’s partner in progress.

Ambassador Lever said, “This launch is more than just the opening of a store—it is a statement of intent. It represents the power of ethical business, the strength of UK- Nigeria collaboration, and the unwavering commitment to female empowerment.

Nigeria is the UK’s second-largest trading partner in Africa, and the UK is one of the largest foreign investors in Nigeria, with investments spanning sectors such as energy, finance, and retail.

According to the envoy, The Body Shop’s entry into Nigeria expresses the UK’s confidence in the Nigerian market and reflects their commitment to fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

In her remark, the General Manager of Body Shop Nigeria, Shalom Lloyd, said the launch of the Body Shop brand in Nigeria resulted from the need to bring home investment from the Diaspora.

Lloyd, a Nigerian in the Diaspora, said the business would support cancer screening, stressing the importance of early detection.

“The fact that we believe in empowerment and community spirit is essential. One of the things that we will be supporting is cancer screening through the Body Shop.

“That’s important. Because 95% of cancer patients in Africa die only because there’s no early detection.  Early detection saves lives. So, we want to be able to actually do a lot of screening to prevent cancer early. The Body Shop will be sponsoring that in Nigeria as well.”

The Body Shop sources many ingredients through its Community Trade program, which supports over 25,000 people globally, including farmers and artisans in developing countries.

The brand is also committed to fighting climate change, with initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy.