The United Kingdom Government has appointed Ms. Vicky Seymour as its new Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja, replacing Mrs. Gill Lever OBE, whose diplomatic posting ended in June 2026.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Thursday, confirming that Seymour has officially assumed her duties in Abuja.
According to the statement, she will play a key role in deepening the longstanding partnership between the United Kingdom and Nigeria, with a focus on economic growth, security, migration, development, international cooperation and strengthening people-to-people ties.
The UK Government said Seymour brings more than two decades of experience in diplomacy, international development and public service.
Before her appointment, she headed the East Africa Department at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), a role she assumed in 2023.
She previously served as Head of the FCDO’s Trade Diplomacy Department and also held the position of Development Director in Mozambique.
The statement noted that Seymour has occupied several senior leadership positions across Africa, including in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan, where she contributed to development, security and governance initiatives.
Her experience also spans climate policy, economic development and international security.
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Before joining the UK civil service, Seymour worked in the non-profit sector, focusing on migration-related issues.
Reacting to her appointment, Seymour expressed enthusiasm about serving in Nigeria and strengthening bilateral relations between both countries.
“I am delighted to be taking Vicky Seymour Takes Over as UK Deputy High Commissioner in Abujaup the role of Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja. I look forward to getting to know this extraordinary country, meeting people from across Nigeria’s diverse communities, and building on the strong partnership that already exists between our two countries.
“Together, I hope we can continue creating opportunities for greater collaboration and stronger links between our people in the years ahead,” she said.
