Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cyber and digital diplomacy as emerging technologies continue to reshape global governance, security and international relations.
The commitment was reiterated at the second edition of the Anticipatory Cyber and Digital Diplomacy Workshop organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with support from the British High Commission.
Opening the workshop, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, said the future of diplomacy would increasingly be shaped by information and communication technology and the ability of nations to adapt to evolving global dynamics.
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Speaking on the theme, “From Awareness to Activation: Operationalising AI, Cyber and Digital Statecraft for Nigeria’s Foreign Policy,” Ambassador Enikanolaiye said the workshop builds on the success of its maiden edition, which led to the establishment of the Ministry’s Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Diplomacy Unit.
He explained that the unit would coordinate Nigeria’s engagement on emerging technologies and strengthen the country’s participation in global digital governance.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye urged participants to focus on practical outcomes, stressing that anticipatory diplomacy requires a transition from reactive approaches to proactive engagement.
“By embracing AI, cyber capabilities and digital statecraft, Nigeria will strengthen its diplomatic reach, enhance strategic communication and better advance its national interest,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the African Union Cybersecurity Experts Group, Abdul-Hakim Ajijola, said the workshop was designed to help Nigeria prepare for future technological developments rather than react to them.
“We are looking at artificial intelligence, quantum computing and drones. The questions Nigeria must ask are: how do we prepare, how do we take advantage of these technologies, and more importantly, how do we mitigate the risks they may bring?” Ajijola said.
He noted that cyber diplomacy has become increasingly important because conflicts often begin in cyberspace before escalating into physical confrontations.
Ajijola added that digital diplomacy enables Nigeria to project its interests globally through digital platforms and noted that this year’s workshop builds on last year’s awareness campaign by focusing on implementation.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, described the workshop as timely, noting that digital capability is becoming a key measure of national influence.
Dr Tijani said Nigeria is already a digital leader in West Africa, citing the country’s communications satellites, the region’s largest concentration of submarine internet cables and its status as a regional data hub.
“We’re a powerful nation in the digital space. Large technology companies have an interest in how we organise ourselves, while neighbouring countries also benefit from our investments in digital infrastructure,” he said.
The workshop focused on strengthening Nigeria’s capacity in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital statecraft to enhance the country’s foreign policy objectives and participation in global digital governance.
