By|| Goodluck E. Adubazi || Abuja
Eminent Nigerian statesmen, diplomats and scholars on Thursday in Abuja, called for an urgent return to professionalism in Nigeria’s foreign service, warning that weak diplomatic institutions could undermine the country’s ability to navigate an increasingly unstable global order.
Speaking at the 8th Annual Conference and Lecture of the Association of Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria (AFRPN), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rotunda Hall, Abuja, the Sarkin Kano, His Royal Highness Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, delivered a strong plea for the restoration of career diplomacy as the backbone of Nigeria’s foreign policy.
Sanusi observed that the world has entered a permanent phase of uncertainty, noting that “interesting times” are no longer temporary.
According to him, the real challenge before nations is not predicting global shifts, but developing the intellectual agility to respond to them.
“Whoever is entrusted with our foreign policy must have the capacity to adapt to new realities,” the monarch said, stressing that while history and experience provide guidance, only well-trained career diplomats can consistently safeguard national interests.
Drawing from history, Sanusi recalled that his late father, a former Permanent Secretary, insisted that all Nigerian ambassadors during his tenure were career diplomats. He said the diplomatic successes recorded during the decolonisation era underscored what professionals could achieve when properly empowered.
Without rejecting political appointments outright, the monarch urged the government to return to a system where at least 75 per cent of ambassadors, especially in key missions, are career diplomats. He likened foreign policy appointments to other professions, asking, “You do not appoint a chief medical director who is not a medical doctor. How can we be so casual about foreign policy?”
Sanusi also revisited his father’s long-standing opposition to the merger of the Foreign Office with the Home Office, describing it as an “unfinished business” that weakened the professional identity of Nigeria’s diplomatic service. He concluded by offering his royal blessings to AFRPN and pledged financial support for the association’s journal launch.
Gambari: Discontent and Threats to Democracy Have Gone Global”.
Earlier, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to late President Muhammadu Buhari and Chairman of the occasion, placed Nigeria’s diplomatic challenges within a broader global context.
Tracing world history from the Second World War to the Cold War and the current undefined era, Gambari argued that today’s world is shaped by long-term forces rather than short-term events. He recounted a famous exchange between Henry Kissinger and a Chinese Prime Minister, who, when asked in the 1970s about the impact of the French Revolution, replied that it was “too early to tell,” noting that China thinks in centuries.
Gambari said foreign policy must therefore be guided by enduring perspectives rather than daily political pressures. He warned that globalisation has not only spread economic opportunity but has also globalised discontent, particularly among those who feel excluded from its benefits.
“Today, the discontent with democracy itself has become globalised,” he said, warning that unless democracy delivers tangible benefits to citizens, frustration will deepen across nations.
AFRPN Reaffirms Commitment to Training and Mentorship
In his welcome address, Professor Lawal Gani, President of AFRPN, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic capacity through training, mentorship and policy engagement.
He said AFRPN continues to provide free training programmes for serving and aspiring diplomats, military officers, senior security officials and ambassadors, focusing on practical diplomatic skills, protocol and international engagement.
Gani praised Professor Gambari for his sustained mentorship and support, noting that AFRPN regularly submits policy recommendations to government on issues ranging from BRICS, ECOWAS and AU reforms to Nigeria’s quest for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
He identified Nigeria’s core national interests as building a strong economy, combating insurgency and corruption, and protecting Nigerians in the diaspora, stressing that foreign policy must be aligned to mobilise resources for these goals.
“AU Commissioner: Democracy Must Deliver, Not Just Exist”
Delivering the keynote lecture, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, said democracy remains central to the AU’s norms, making it the only intergovernmental body with zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government.
However, Adeoye cautioned that democracy in Africa faces serious challenges, not because of its principles, but because of its failure in some cases to deliver real benefits to citizens.
“The challenge before us is not simply to defend democratic forms,” he said, “but to ensure that democracy delivers and remains relevant to African realities.”
He noted that while mega-trends such as technology, demography and global uncertainty are shaping Africa’s future, they are not destiny. “What matters,” he said, “is how we respond.”
Adeoye concluded that democratic consolidation in Africa would not come from preserving outdated models, but from rebuilding democracy to meet the needs and expectations of the people.
