Florence Eshalomi, Nigerian-British politician, appointed UK trade envoy to Nigeria

Florence Eshalomi, a Nigerian-British politician, has been appointed as the United Kingdom’s (UK) trade envoy to Nigeria.

Eshalomi confirmed her appointment on X on Tuesday.  

She is the second Nigerian to be appointed as the UK trade envoy — Helen Grant is the first.

“It is an honour to have been appointed as the United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria,” she wrote.

“I’m looking forward to building on my close ties with Nigeria to promote a strong and flourishing economic relationship between our two great nations.

“I am looking forward to building on the UK’s relationship with Nigeria, to help explore shared growth and opportunities for both countries.”

In a statement on Tuesday announcing the appointment of 32 parliamentarians, Jonathan Reynolds, UK’s business and trade secretary, said trade and investment are key to delivering economic growth.

“I’ve launched a new team of Trade Envoys, who will use their experience, expertise and knowledge to unlock new markets around the world for British businesses, drumming up investment into the UK and ultimately driving economic growth,” Reynolds said.

Eshalomi, the 44-year-old politician,  was first elected as a member of parliament (MP) for Vauxhall in 2019, succeeding Kate Hoey.

She was re-elected in 2024 for the newly created Vauxhall and Camberwell Green constituency.

A member of the Labour and cooperative parties, she previously represented Lambeth and Southwark as a London Assembly member (AM) from 2016 to 2021.

Prior to her new appointment, she focused on transport, housing, and equality issues as an MP and currently serves as chair of the housing, communities, and local government committee.

Eshalomi holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) honours in Political and International Studies with Law from Middlesex University. 

She began her working life at 16 years old at Sainsbury’s before moving into public affairs and campaigning.

Eshalomi’s career includes roles as a policy officer in local government and a regional organiser for the Labour Party during the 2005 general election.