UK Names Jonny Baxter As Deputy High Commissioner For Lagos

UK Names Jonny Baxter As Deputy High Commissioner For Lagos

The United Kingdom has selected Mr Jonny Baxter as its newly appointed Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) stationed in Lagos, Nigeria.

In an announcement made on Tuesday, Ndidiamaka Eze, the Senior Press & Public Affairs Officer, Communications Lead for Prosperity and Economic Development at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), conveyed that Baxter will assume his role succeeding Ben Llewellyn-Jones, who recently concluded a three-year tenure as Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos.

According to the statement, Jonny is a seasoned diplomat who has garnered experience across various regions of the world. Prior to his appointment as the British Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) in Lagos, he served as the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan from January 2021 to July 2023. Furthermore, he held the position of Deputy Director, Finance and Performance Department at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (previously known as DFID) from 2018 to 2020.

Baxter’s track record encompasses a range of senior roles within the Department of International Development (DFID). His engagements include leading the Human Development Department from 2017 to 2018, serving as the Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State from 2014 to 2016, and overseeing the Higher Education Taskforce Secretariat from 2013 to 2014, all at the DFID Headquarters in London.

The statement divulged that prior to these appointments, Jonny served in various capacities in Sudan, Iraq, Guyana, and Tanzania.

As a sign of his entrance into this new role, Baxter expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am excited about this new role and I look forward to working with the people of this great country, including those in government, in the private sector, and in civil society, to do all I can to help build a more prosperous Nigeria and strengthen the already impressive partnerships between the people and institutions of both our countries.”