The Britain–Nigeria Educational Trust (BNET) reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to strengthening education in Nigeria during its 2026 Annual General Meeting held at the Royal Over-Seas League in London.

The registered UK charity, originally founded in 1968 as the Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Memorial Trust, continues to support teacher training, scholarships, educational resources and grassroots learning initiatives across Nigeria. During the AGM, Chairman David Brandler reviewed the Trust’s achievements over the past year, while members also re-elected several trustees completing their terms, ensuring continuity in the organisation’s leadership.

The highlight of the meeting was an address by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, who praised BNET’s remarkable contribution to education and pledged his personal support for its future work.

The High Commissioner described education as Nigeria’s most important long-term investment but lamented that successive governments have often failed to prioritise the sector because its benefits are not immediately visible within political cycles. He also cited policy disruptions during periods of military rule as a major factor behind the challenges facing Nigerian education today.

Ambassador Dalhatu called for stronger UK–Nigeria educational partnerships, revealing that he has been engaging British universities to establish campuses in Nigeria, making world-class education more accessible to Nigerian students despite rising overseas study costs and tighter visa regulations.

Commending the generosity of BNET’s supporters, the High Commissioner announced a personal donation of £5,000 to the Trust and pledged continued collaboration with the organisation.

His remarks reinforced the importance of sustained investment, philanthropy and international cooperation in shaping the next generation of Nigerian leaders through quality education.

Ms Idowu reporting from London.