Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
The United Kingdom Government has appointed Ben Llewellyn-Jones as the new British Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) in Lagos.
In a statement issued yesterday by the UK mission in Abuja, Lewellyn-Jones took over from Ms. Harriet Thompson, who recently concluded four years as DHC in Abuja and Lagos.
It described Lewellyn-Jones an experienced diplomat, who has worked in different parts of the world, including previously in Nigeria.
The statement said: “Ben will be focusing his time and energy on supporting trade, investment and development in Nigeria and growing commercial links between the UK and Nigeria.”
The statement added that Lewellyn-Jones previously worked at the British High Commission in Abuja as a Political Counsellor from July 2014 to July 2017.
He was recently the Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa from August 2017 to August 2020, where he worked particularly to support trade and investment. Prior to that, he was the British High Commissioner to Rwanda from 2011 to 2014.
It added that throughout his career, Llewellyn-Jones has held a range of responsibilities, including leading UK policy to prevent dangerous climate change, and working to support UK agencies tackling organised crime.
He served as the Deputy Head of the Climate Change and Energy Group at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2009 to 2010, and the Head of the Third Country Relations Team at the UK Home Office in 2006.
Llewellyn-Jones worked in Brussels at the UK’s Permanent Representation to the EU for four and a half years, and has led the UK delegation at a number of EU and United Nations senior multilateral meetings.
He was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Queen in 2009 for his service to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (now Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office).
On arrival, Llewellyn-Jones was quoted to have said: “It’s great to be back in Nigeria, and I‘m very excited about this new role. I thoroughly enjoyed my three years in Abuja, and I know that Lagos would be a fantastic place to live and work. I am looking forward to reconnecting with old friends, making new ones and doing all I can to support trade, investment and development in Nigeria.”
