By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The United States Mission in Nigeria has named Brandon Hudspeth as the new Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.
Hudspeth, a career diplomat and member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, will serve a three-year term as the senior U.S. government representative responsible for diplomatic affairs across 17 states in southern Nigeria.
He succeeds Rick Swart, who retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in July.
The appointment marks Hudspeth’s return to Lagos, where he previously served as Chief of the Political-Economic Section at the U.S. Consulate General from 2020 to 2022.
His latest posting comes amid ongoing efforts by the United States to deepen diplomatic and bilateral relations with Nigeria, with a particular focus on the southern region.
“I am honored to return to Lagos as the U.S. Consul General,” Hudspeth said.
“I know firsthand the strength of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership and the extraordinary energy, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial spirit that Nigerians and Americans share.”
He said he looked forward to reconnecting with old friends, building new partnerships and working with Nigerians to expand trade and investment, promote innovation and strengthen cooperation in the technology and creative industries.
According to him, these efforts would help create new opportunities and promote shared prosperity between Nigeria and the United States.
Hudspeth brings about two decades of diplomatic experience across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Washington.
Before his Lagos posting, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Windhoek, Namibia.
His previous assignments include Director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, where he oversaw U.S. civilian assistance programmes supporting law enforcement, rule of law, counter-narcotics efforts and maritime security cooperation.
He also served as Political-Economic Section Chief in Bamako, Mali; Nonimmigrant Visa Chief in Havana, Cuba; and Political-Military Officer in Kabul, Afghanistan.
In Washington, D.C., Hudspeth has served in several senior roles at the U.S. Department of State, including with the Operations Center and the Secretariat Staff, where he supported the Secretary of State. He also worked as a Desk Officer in the Bureau of African Affairs.
A Texas native, Hudspeth holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics from Morehouse College.
He went on to earn a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, where he was recognised as a Distinguished Graduate.
The U.S. Mission said Hudspeth’s appointment is expected to help deepen diplomatic cooperation and strengthen economic ties between Nigeria and the United States.
Culled from Sun
