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United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy
The British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, David Lammy, has unveiled a flagship soft power campaign, to celebrate the United Kingdom and Nigeria’s cultural and creative ties.
Lammy launched the campaign ‘Jollof and Tea’ on Sunday evening in Lagos, at an event attended by the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa.
In a press release on Monday, British Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer, Ndidiamaka Eze, said the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr Jonny Baxter, hosted the event.
Also in attendance were the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery; the Chief Executive Officer of the British Film Institute, Ben Roberts, and other key figures in the creative industry.
At the launch, Lammy also unveiled a first-of-its-kind phone booth designed by a Lagos-based Nigerian graffiti and visual artist, Frederick ‘Dricky’ Stickman.
Speaking at the event, the British Foreign Secretary reiterated the UK’s commitment to encouraging talent in Nigeria and the diaspora, pledging the European country’s support to strengthen partnerships in the creative sector to benefit the two economies.
“I have sampled jollof rice. This campaign isn’t just about art. It’s about music, it’s about film, it’s about sports, nature, food, fashion.
“It’s about flourishing creative industries in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. It’s about our shared ambitions,” Lammy said.
Commenting on the campaign, Baxter said, “The ‘Jollof and Tea’ campaign is designed to showcase the length and breadth of the UK-Nigeria partnership, including the creative and cultural sectors.
“It will help raise awareness about the existing connections between the UK and Nigeria and take forward ongoing efforts by both our countries to strengthen our people-to-people links.”
While in Lagos, Lammy attended the closing evening of Art X West Africa’s leading art fair and took a tour of the exhibition alongside Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, founder of Art X.
He also had a mini-bilateral meeting with Musawa, to understand Nigeria’s ideas for collaboration with the UK, and how the recently launched UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) can help drive growth in the creative industries.
Lammy was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on July 5, 2024. He was first elected as a Labour Member of Parliament at the age of 27 in June 2000.
