The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.
We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.
Job Title:Legal Adviser and Company Secretary
Location:Abuja & Lagos, Nigeria
The Role:
The main purpose of this role is to serve as the Legal Adviser and Company Secretary for the British Council in Nigeria, providing strategic legal, governance and regulatory leadership to ensure compliance with applicable laws, statutory obligations, corporate governance requirements and data protection regulations.
The role holder is the principal legal adviser to the Board, Country Director and the rest of the Senior Leadership Team, providing relevant and focused legal advice, overseeing legal risk management, corporate governance, litigation, contracting and regulatory compliance across all areas of the organisation, including corporate, commercial, programme management, employment, operations, contracting and data protection
Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:
General Counsel – Legal, Regulatory & Compliance
- Serve as the principal legal adviser to the Board, Country Director, Senior Leadership Team and business functions, providing strategic, commercial and risk-based legal advice. Provide legal oversight across all areas of the organisation, including corporate, commercial, employment, intellectual property, regulatory, data protection and operational matters, working closely with other key stakeholders.
- Coordinate the Nigeria operation’s internally and externally sourced legal advice.
- Coordinate compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements, working closely with Finance and Tax, People Function, Procurement, Safeguarding, Information Security, Facilities and other business functions to ensure organisational compliance.
- Act as the focal point of communication in Nigeria for British Council and company litigation matters and for legal advice. Lead the management of disputes, investigations, litigation, regulatory enquiries and enforcement matters.
Company Secretary & Corporate Governance
- Serve as Company Secretary to the British Council companies in Nigeria, ensuring compliance with applicable company legislation, corporate governance requirements and the Companies’ governing documents.
- Arrange and manage Board and Annual General Meetings.
- Advise directors on their statutory duties, fiduciary responsibilities, corporate governance obligations and good governance practices.
Data Protection, Information Governance & Privacy
- Serve as the Nigeria Data Protection Officer (DPO), acting as a point of contact for data protection and privacy matters, supported by the IGRM SSA lead.
- Ensure compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), GAID and other relevant privacy legislation, British Council global data protection policies and other applicable information governance requirements.
- Support learning and development by delivering data protection awareness programmes, workshops and targeted training.
Relationship and stakeholder management
- Build and maintain excellent relationships with internal partners and stakeholders within and across the Nigeria operation, to ensure effective, integrated and joined-up delivery of agreed business objectives.
- Proactively build and maintain relationships with specific external stakeholders in the UK, regional and in Nigeria, and develop professional networks.
Consultancy, analysis and problem solving
- Apply advanced knowledge and technical specialism to solve a range of complex issues across the British Council operations.
- Deploy a range of specialist methodologies, approaches and technologies to support the provision of high-quality services and advice.
- Distil complex concepts and analysis into cogent and persuasive business case presentations, which convincingly influence decision-makers about the need for significant changes to policy or practice.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Consistently create an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of your own biases and taking action to mitigate against these. Ensuring people feel valued and are treated equitably, with support for people’s well-being and mental health particularly through periods of significant change.
- Have a deep understanding of and take accountability for putting the British Council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and anti-racism into practice. To make time for and visibly engage with learning and development related to EDI and anti-racism.
Requirements of the role:
- A qualified legal practitioner with active membership of the Nigerian Bar Association
- Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) degree from a recognised institution
- Barrister at Law (B.L.) and call to bar certificate from the Nigerian Law School
- NYSC certificate
- Experience in an advisory role to the board of directors, senior leadership team or another similar group
- Strong organisational and problem-solving skills
- High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information
- Ability to multitask under pressure in a fast-paced environment
- Experience in a leadership role which involves oversight and accountability for risk management and compliance
Desirable:
- Post graduate qualification or specialised training in corporate governance or related
- Membership of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators or similar organisation.
Application Deadline : 27 August 2026
METHOD OF APPLICATION
Interested and Qualified candidates should use link below to Apply.
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