Baxter who takes over from Ben Llewellyn-Jones OBE who recently concluded three years as DHC in Lagos distinguished himself as diplomat with diverse experience having worked in different parts of the world.
Prior to becoming the British 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.
He has 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 Task Force Secretariat from 2013-2014 all at the DFID Headquarters, London.
Prior to these roles, Baxter did serve in Sudan, Iraq, Guyana and Tanzania.
Remarking on the new appointment, Baxter 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.”
