AS foreign policy experts, diplomats, professionals, civil society organisations, trade unions and the intelligentsia arrive in Abuja for an all stakeholders summit on Nigeria's engagement with the rest of the world, a picture of what the country's new foreign policy trust could look like has emerged.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, the era when the nation's foreign policy oscillates between the whims of the country's foreign minister and the President is over.
The foreign policy review summit begins in Abuja tomorrow.
The minister, who spoke with The Guardian on the review at the weekend, said it is important that Nigerians own the foreign policy that would be implemented in the new era of economic diplomacy.
Ashiru said: "Our foreign policy must now reflect the aspirations of Nigerians, our collective dreams, the yearnings of our children, the fulfillment of the potentials of our youths as well as the realisation of the manifest destiny of this great country."
What is being outlined now, according to Ashiru, is a set of sustainable ideas which tallies with the national interest but substantially takes care of today's needs that had been identified as economic wellbeing of citizens, enhanced security and massive foreign investment inflow.
Also to be better defined are the issues of Nigeria's political interests – its realpolitik – placed alongside its leadership role in the sub-region and on the continent.
The minister stated: "The process is well on course. The vision has always been there from inception. The idea now is to give it life by making all important segments of society make inputs while the problematic question of implementation will be resolved once and for all.
"There is also the issue of reciprocity. We are now to get the best ideas on how to drive this process in a sustainable way. It is the reason we are now poised to saying countries benefiting from Nigeria's assistance should equally give their support of votes when we make such request at international organisations, sub-regional, regional and global fora."
Ashiru also noted that "it is in the quest for synergies and sharing of best practices and experiences with persons who helped build the institutional memory of the ministry that a desk in the office of the permanent secretary has been created to collate inputs from Nigeria's retired ambassadors while their welfare remains of interest to the government."
A major issue that would also be addressed at the meeting is the place of professionalism in Nigeria's foreign mission.
The Guardian