By Olukayode Idowu
The United Kingdom has appointed Mr. Jonny Baxter has its Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) in Lagos, Nigeria.
A statement on Tuesday signed by the Senior Press & Public Affairs Officer | Comms Lead, Prosperity and Economic Development at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Ndidiamaka Eze said Baxter
takes over from Ben Llewellyn-Jones OBE who recently concluded three years as Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos.
According to the statement, Jonny is an experienced diplomat who has worked in different parts of the world. Prior to becoming the British Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) in Lagos, he served as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan from January 2021-July 2023 and Deputy Director, Finance and Performance Department at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office – FCDO (then DFID) from 2018-2020.
Baxter is said to have held various senior positions in the Department of International Development (DFID). These included running the Human Development Department from 2017-2018, Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State from 2014-2016, and head of the Higher Education Taskforce Secretariat from 2013-2014 all at the DFID Headquarters, London.
The statement revealed that prior to these roles Jonny did postings in Sudan, Iraq, Guyana and Tanzania.
Baxter, to mark his arrival, said: “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.”
