Catriona Wendy Campbell Laing CB has recently completed her tenure as the British High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Her time in Nigeria, spanning from November 2018 to March 2023, saw her lead a strong and productive partnership between the UK and Nigeria.
During her time in Nigeria, Catriona worked towards strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries, with a focus on trade, security, and development. She played a key role in promoting the UK’s investments in Nigeria, which included setting up the UK-Nigeria Investment Summit in 2018 and bringing UK businesses to Nigeria.
Catriona’s work also extended to support the Nigerian government in its efforts to tackle corruption, counter-terrorism, and human rights. She was instrumental in establishing the UK’s partnership with Nigeria in the fight against human trafficking and supported the Nigerian government in setting up the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
Prior to her appointment as British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona served as the British Ambassador to Zimbabwe from 2014 to 2018. With her extensive experience in international relations, she was able to navigate the complex political landscape of Zimbabwe and build a strong relationship between the UK and Zimbabwe.
Before joining the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Catriona held various positions in the UK government, including as Deputy Director of the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit and Head of DFID’s International Division Advisory Department. She was awarded The Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2012 New Year Honors, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the UK government.
Catriona’s departure from Nigeria has been marked with gratitude and appreciation from the Nigerian government and the UK-Nigeria community. On March 20, the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama granted a farewell audience to her at Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Abuja. Her contributions to strengthening the partnership between the two countries will be remembered for years to come.
