Despite the atmosphere of controversy surrounding diplomacy generally, some members of the foreign services are known to have developed special competence and achieved distinguished careers.
In recent times, despite the general lethargy characterising foreign policy, some few members of the diplomatic corps have been impressively proactive as well.
Catriona Wendy Campbell Laing CB, Her Majesty’s High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for example, had long been interested in the development of more cordial relations and the expansion of trade with African and other Commonwealth nations.
Catriona Laing was appointed Her Majesty’s High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in November 2018.
Perhaps the most notable proof of Catriona’s exceptional diplomatic wherewithal came with a recent exclusive interview granted Daily Trust in which she spoke on the UK’s support to Nigeria as the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic and the global effort to further protect millions of children against infectious diseases by GAVI; the Vaccine Alliance.
In that interview, despite being the first female British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona eminently placed herself in a position to be remembered as a friend and partner working together with Nigerians to achieve mutual objectives and to deepen a longstanding relationship.
In her 18 months as High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona had dutifully visited 11 states across five of the six geo-political zones with a personal target for visiting all 36 states in the federation which COVID-19 has thrown into some disarray for the moment.
One cannot help being impressed by the high diplomatic tone with which she described the United Kingdom as Nigeria’s oldest and closest friend, or the way she pointed at recent high-profile exchanges such as President Buhari’s visit to Dumfries House at the invitation of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in January 2020, ahead of the African Investment Summit in London, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales’ visit to Nigeria in 2018 and His Royal Highness Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex’s visit to Nigeria earlier this year, as a testament to the important position Nigeria maintains in the UK esteem.
Coming from the North East, I personally felt greatly encouraged when Catriona enumerated the UK’s response to the humanitarian crisis in that troubled region.
It was quite reassuring to learn that about five years (2018 -2022), £300m of UK aid will deliver: food assistance to up to 1.5m people; treatment for up to 120,000 children at risk from Severe Acute Malnutrition; support to give 100,000 children an education; and safe transport for aid and aid workers as espoused by the dynamic diplomat.
Perhaps even more reassuring was her revelation that the UK’s work in the North east also covers the delivery of a range of defence engagements including delivering train the trainer packages, advice on institutional reform, and predeployment training, designed to enhance their ability to engage and defeat enemy combatants, and defend territory, whilst complying with the law of armed conflict and positively engaging with marginalised groups.
Overall, as a public affairs commentator and current affairs analyst, I personally cannot hide my elation at the impression created by Catriona’s wisdom and high diplomatic acumen displayed throughout the interview.
She certainly came across as an outstanding, honest, knowledgeable, competently up-to-date and dynamic diplomatic state actor and an asset to have in Nigeria.
Ibrahim Jirgi is the MD/CEO Triple CEE Media Ltd, Abuja [email protected]
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