Because I’m a woman, sometimes people mistake my husband as the diplomat not me – British High Commissioner
First female British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs. Catriona Laing has said that because she’s a woman doing a job usually associated with men, people tend to mistake her husband as the diplomat not her when they go out together.
Mrs Laing succeeded Mr. Paul Arkwright last year November and she’s the very first female High Commissioner from the United Kingdom to Nigeria.
Mrs. Laing, who was the Ambassador to Zimbabwe since September 2014, was appointed in June but officially took up appointment in November.
While answering questions on Channels TV Sunrise Daily show, Tuesday, Mrs Laing who laughed off the incidents said she was never embarrassed by such perception. She said rather it has made her to double her efforts wherever she goes to promote the empowerment of women.
She said Nigeria gave her the warmest reception since her diplomatic career. She referenced the diversity of Nigeria as a uniqueness.
The UK diplomat said she has visited about 10 states in Nigeria and will in the coming months visit more places and states.
She said the upcoming UK-Africa Investment to be held in the UK would feature about 21 African countries chiefly for the purpose of unveiling African investment opportunities to UK investors. We want to help boost foreign direct investment (FDI) from UK to Africa, she said.
According to her, Nigeria is the only country selected to attend every one of the various events listed for the one-day summit.