My friends Paul and Rex recently visited Nigeria and asked if they could bring me anything. So of course I asked for Kilishi - and they delivered!
The proper stuff - fiery and wrapped in newspaper. Dis food sweet well well! Thank you Paul, Rex and Naija ๐๐ผ
Iโve sat on Chevening interview panels for the last 15 years. On Monday I will be giving the inside track on what we are looking for in successful candidates. If you want a fully funded post-grad scholarship in the UK, no be shy-o!
Are you applying for a Chevening scholarship? Ever wondered how you can address our Priority Areas in your application? Join our
@UKinNigeria
Instagram live Q and A session on Monday 28/09/2020, at 11 WAT to find out.
@CheveningFCDO
My
#Naija
brodas and sistas I dey arrive in Cambodia ๐ฐ๐ญ (no be japa).
I will now be tweeting more about Cambodia but a part of me will always fly the flag for
#Naija
๐๐ ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ฌ
(And yes it was a good workout ๐)
We are following developments closely. Encourage authorities to respect human rights of protestors and those protesting to remain peaceful. Hope that this moment catalyses progress on police reform.
Significant protests over
#SARS
demonstrating Nigerian peopleโs desire for police reform. Peaceful protests are powerful. Police Act recently passed by
@MBuhari
provides good foundation to build more accountable community police force.
@UKinNigeria
@PoliceNG
Shout out to
@NCDCgov
for doing a great job ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ On arrival they took my details and gave me a self isolation kit. Just done my first 7pm temperature take. All okay so far.
Officially handing over my role
@UKinNigeria
Sometimes hard to judge achievements in diplomacy, but if a few Nigerians doing great work feel a bit more seen/supported or if a few feel a bit warmer toward ๐ฌ๐ง as a result of interactions with me, I consider it a job well done
Honour to meet His Majesty King of Cambodia & officially take up role as British Ambassador. ๐ฌ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ญ
Among 1st British Ambassadors to present credentials from His Majesty King Charles III and, Iโm told, one of few foreigners to speak Khmer with King Norodom Sihamoni.
I'm humbled to represent the diverse people of the 4 nations of the United Kingdom and privileged to be able to do so in Cambodia - a beautiful country with a rich culture. I see enormous potential for collaboration to benefit both our peoples.
With DHC Lagos
@benllewellynjo1
had lunch with the
@MTV
Award Winning
@kikimordi
. Long been impressed with Kikiโs journalism, her brave stand for
#genderrights
and, recently, her work with
@feminist_co
against police brutality. She makes a huge contribution for a better ๐ณ๐ฌ
Thank you to Minister for Trade
@GregHands
for visiting Cambodia for the UK-ASEAN economic dialogue.
My short video in Khmer thanks Cambodian protocol for their amazing efforts around the
@ASEAN
summits and shares some highlights of the Ministerโs successful visit.
Been talking a lot to friends in Nigerian civil society groups over last few weeks. The people I know are patriots, who care deeply about building a better ๐ณ๐ฌ . Not everyone shares their views but they are peaceful and donโt deserve to face threats or intimidation
@UKinNigeria
Weโre past midnight so itโs already International Day Against the Death Penalty. Thinking of the over 2000 people on death row in Nigeria and all those facing death sentences. UK opposes death penalty in all circumstances.
Had to explain my Nigerianisms to a fellow Brit today as I hissed at a waiter to attract attention. At least Iโm still British enough to have been drinking tea!
Fantastic day at Tarkwa Bay - pleasant boat journey out of the city and an afternoon of sun and surf. Day finished with drinks at
@EkoAtlantic
. Thank you
#Lagos
!
My successor
@UKinNigeria
is
@jonathan_bacon
- please follow him! Heโs lived in ๐ณ๐ฌ before so is already a Naija fan but am sure he would welcome your tips as he settles into his new role. Hereโs a few from me to get the ball rolling:
#Thread
(1/7)
Did a short media interview this morning, and decided to push myself and do the whole thing in Khmer.
Letโs hope the Cambodian public are more forgiving than our head of comms, who described it as โnot greatโ. Learning languages is a humbling experience. ๐ ๐ ๐
In a matter of days, Nigeria ๐ณ๐ฌ has its general elections.
I know how high the stakes are. Iโll be watching from afar and wishing good things for Nigeria and Nigerians.
Logging off for Christmas and at end of official last day working on Nigeria. At the end of this crazy year, the best I can offer you in response to โhow bodi?โ remains โbodi dey inside clotheโ. Happy holidays all.
แแทแแถแแฏแแแถแแแ looked celestial in the morning light. A special way to mark Cambodiaโs 69th Independence Day.
I was pleased to pay my respects to His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni on behalf of the UK government.
Happy Independence Day to all Cambodians.
๐ฐ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ญ
Genuinely moving to see the reactions of Cambodians to the return of unique artefacts that carry such deep cultural meaning, including jewellery recently returned from the UK.
An extraordinary privilege to see these previously stolen artefacts displayed in their ancestral home.
Balancing Ambassadorial duties with a young family is a new challenge for me. After travelling away from home a bit this past 2 weeks, Iโve turned down every event this weekend to spend time with the family. This morning made some American-style pancakes for my boys!
Thanks to everyone who has followed me today ๐. I do and will follow back but have reached my daily limit. Iโll catch up over the next couple of days. Please bear with me!
3 guys who used to work in Nigeria walked into a barโฆ and talked mainly about
#Naija
๐๐๐ณ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ฌ. Feel free to make up your own punchline ๐
We are lucky to have an excellent consular team at the Embassy, who do great work to support Brits in Cambodia.
One of their responsibilities is visiting British prisoners. I believe in understanding all parts of our work, so was glad to join the team today on a prison visit.
I learnt of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti when preparing for my posting to Nigeria. I was bowled away by accounts of her fearlessness, intellect and leadership - a Nigerian hero deserving of celebration as Nigeria marks its 60th Anniversary of Independence.
The Embassy is closed for Easter Monday but my kids still had school. So my wife and I took the chance for a morning date on Koh Norea - coffee, frozen yoghurt and a peaceful walk along the Mekong. A pretty good morning!
.
@UKinNigeria
Extremely concerned by reports, including from
@UKinNigeria
observers, of military interference in the election process in Rivers State. Monitoring the situation closely.
@inecnigeria
staff must be allowed to do their job in safety, without intimidation.
@adetolaov
Perhaps true if youโre viewing cooking as a chore, or a means to an end, rather than a creative process that can be enjoyed in its own right. We all happily spend hours doing unproductive things for entertainment. Reminds me of the saying about enjoying the journey.
I have said it before - I have the best colleagues! Thanks so much
@UKinNigeria
friends for these amazing gifts - ranging from native dress to socks to paintings! Feel very touched ๐
The nervous face of a man who has just ordered his first haircut in a new language. I guess Iโll find out soon enough from my wife and colleagues, whether I said the right thing ๐
Great run today. After a bad weekend last week, made another big step forward. Could be the sunshine, the fact the flowers are coming out in the parks or because with no sweater or raincoat was able to rock my fave sports shirt
#naijapower
Celebrated my 40th exactly as I wanted with a lovely beach weekend with my wife, kids and some old friends and their families. The sun was shining
@WestWittBeach
, tho a bit breezy. Hereโs me enjoying a cool
@LaineBrewCo
Mangolicious beer in the sun!
People really have nothing better to do than try and drag down prominent women. You all can come with your feeble critiques but
@kikimordi
know you have lots of supporters!
Nigerian journalist
@KikiMordi
, who shared her experiences of
#onlineviolence
with ICFJ as a research subject, has faced a flood of sexist smears, threats and disinformation-laced attacks in recent days.
Doesnโt yet feel like the right time to resume posting about trivial stuff here - not when lots of people are still reeling. But worth saying to my ๐ณ๐ฌ friends - I know and am thinking of you all.
Love seeing the street life when I go running in Phnom Penh at dusk.
When the day cools, families, couples and groups of young people come out to play badminton, have picnics by the river or do aerobics. Itโs a relaxed pace of bustle and lovely to observe.
Living in Cambodia encourages strict maintenance of oneโs sock drawer. I never know in the working day when I might need to remove my shoes to show respect at a temple or someoneโs house. Imagine the shame of a threadbare sock or, worse, a hole! ๐ฑ
Started my day over coffee with an inspiring group of young people. We talked a bit about careers in diplomacy - they are all much more impressive and focused than I was at their age.
Huge thanks to
@BophanaCenter
for sending me a copy of
@thegoldenvoicex
graphic novel!
Canโt wait to get stuck in to this story about an icon of Cambodian music, who lived through such a turbulent period. I also look forward to challenging my Khmer reading ability.
Jaw dropping moment this afternoon.
After I posted a video about demining on Facebook, a man wrote to me in Khmer saying he had a landmine near his house. I contacted the excellent
@TheHALOTrust
who reached out to him and today found a rifle grenade, 100m from lots of houses๐
A British Nigerian has been given the big responsibility of keeping the British Parliament in order! Queen appoints Nigerian-born engineer as new serjeant at arms - Voice Online
With all thatโs been going on in ๐ณ๐ฌ just realised I didnโt mark my 15 year anniversary of joining the diplomatic service on the weekend. Supporting modern British values overseas was an important part of my motivation for joining.
First day learning the language for my next role - a big change. They say itโs harder to learn a language when youโre older. I wonder if thatโs becos we find it hard to go from feeling a competent professional to feeling a bumbling idiot. Guess humility will be key!
๐๐ผwe are keeping
@FCDOGovUK
Ministers in London updated on developments in
#Nigeria
. Hope everyone out there peacefully expressing their opinions stays safe this weekend.
Minister for Africa
@JamesDuddridge
and colleagues in London following events closely. Hearing disturbing reports of violence against peaceful protesters in parts of
#Nigeria
. Encourage authorities to protect peopleโs fundamental rights.
@UKinNigeria
@PoliceNG
A lesson on cyberbullying - it is the people wading in, in public, and reinforcing a harmful narrative without full details that do the real damage. Two people disagreeing in public, are still just two people arguing. May we all be better than that.
๐๐ผForeign Secretary following events in Nigeria with concern and calls for accountability. My own thoughts with friends and colleagues, especially those in Lagos.
I am deeply concerned by the violence in Nigeria, including widespread reports of civilian deaths. We call for an end to all violence. The Nigerian government must urgently investigate reports of brutality by its security forces and hold those responsible to account.
My final pre-Christmas event was a lunch with the
@ukincambodia
team yesterday. Barbecue, secret Santa and some singingโฆ a nice time!
Fly to UK tomorrow to celebrate Christmas there. Weโll miss Cambodia (especially the weather!).
As UK Amb., I should probably feel regret that we have lost our origami heart-making world crown. But Cambodia hasnโt just edged past us, it has launched into the stratosphere - nearly 4m! A special way to mark SEA Games.
Congratulations Cambodia! โค๏ธ ๐ฐ๐ญ
Spent today in Kampong Cham. Good to get out of Phnom Penh and learn a bit more about Cambodia and itโs amazing people.
And a bonus in the recent hot weather is that it rained this afternoon!
Last night was our first date night in Phnom Penh!
แแแธแแแ แแแแแ แแแแแแแแแแธแแแแแผแ! แแพแแแแถแแแแ แผแแแแแแแแแแถแแแข แแทแแแแถแแแฝแแแแแแ แแแแแแ
@nilmashazdole
Short video in Khmer about visit of
@HMS_Spey
- first
@RoyalNavy
ship in Cambodia since 1958!
Huge thanks to Captain & crew for all their hard work & hospitality.
Thanks to friends from Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Korea, Singapore, USA & Vietnam for joining
๐ฌ๐ง ๐ ๐ขโ๏ธ๐ฐ๐ญ
On behalf of the British Embassy Phnom Penh, British Ambassador
@DomWUK
would like to wish you and your family a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Check out the Ambassador video ๐ for his message to British nationals ๐ฌ๐ง and Cambodians ๐ฐ๐ญ.
After a long day travelling & meetings in Preah Vihear town, stopped at stunning Koh Ker temple at sunset.
Remembered reading about แแแแธแ (the White Elephant) and the temple during my Khmer studies so was pleased to see his statue.
๐ฐ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ญ
At the end of a lovely, peaceful day with my family, where we ate plenty in a warm home, sending buckets of Christmas goodwill to those who lack, those who are sad, those who are hurt, and those who are hateful. May 2021 bring you all reasons to feel otherwise.
Attending a Cambodian wedding for the first time was always going to be special. But even more so as the couple met each other when they were awarded UK Govt Chevening scholarships at the same time. Congratulations Chivy & Kanika!
Chevening changes lives! ๐คฉ๐ฅฐ
Spent the Pchum Ben holiday in China. Visiting the Great Wall was one of the highlights. Enjoyed learning a bit more about Chinese culture and history - always important in building understanding and developing mutual respect.
Happy New Year! Thanks to our friends at the Himawari Hotel in Phnom Penh for letting us join them for the countdown and fireworks.
To those of you in time zones that have not yet crossed, let me tell you 2024 is something special ๐
20 years ago this month, I started my first overseas job, as a volunteer in the French village of Cuise-La-Motte. First of many roles in different countries. Been lucky enough to engage with and learn from other cultures, though think my values have remained fairly constant.
Enjoying some bbq chicken on my day off to celebrate
#NaijaAt60
. Thanks to
@EdwardGajere
for the Nigerian independence themed tshirt. Happy Independence Day to all my Nigerian friends!
Just been for my sixth COVID-19 test. If all goes well, will be flying back to Nigeria ๐ณ๐ฌ this weekend for a final stint before the end of my posting.