The government of the United Kingdom has appointed Ms Cynthia Rowe as the Development Director for the British High Commission in Nigeria.
The British High Commission Communications Office in Abuja said on Thursday Rowe takes over from Mr Christopher Prycroft who recently concluded four years as Development Director of the mission in Nigeria.
According to the communications office, Rowe is an experienced development diplomat and practitioner who has worked in different parts of the world including Nepal, Afghanistan, and Sierra Leone.
Before becoming the Development Director for the British High Commission in Nigeria, Rowe served as the Head of Governance, Political, and Services, at the British Embassy in Kathmandu.
Before then, she served as the Senior Councilor for policy in the Department for International Development, Tanzania, and as the Head of Mission/Lead for Ebola Operations in Sierra Leone.
In the UK, she helped redesign UK Local Government systems and scrutinized the performance of governments in her work with the Audit Commission.
Rowe was awarded two Service Medals for her work in Afghanistan and her work on Ebola.
To mark her arrival in Nigeria, she said, “I am delighted to be in Nigeria, one of the most remarkable countries in the world for its talents, opportunities, and challenges.
“I am passionate about the UK’s close relationship with Nigeria, and partnership will be the cornerstone of my work here.
“I am hugely encouraged by the work that has already been achieved by my predecessor in the areas of health, education, and governance, and of our work with women and girls.
“I am also hugely encouraged to help where there is humanitarian need.
“I very much look forward to working with UK government colleagues, together with the government of Nigeria to advance Nigeria’s development agenda.”
