By Margaret Ebeshi, Abuja
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to restoring professionalism, innovation, and strategic statecraft in Nigeria’s foreign relations.
The Minister stated this while representing Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the closing ceremony of the 26th Regular Course of the Foreign Service Academy in Abuja, Nigeria.
Speaking before staff, graduating officers, and dignitaries, Amb. Tuggar described the ceremony as “an institutional milestone” marking the induction of a new generation of diplomats who will serve as “the face, the voice, and the conscience of our nation on the global stage.”
He commended the Foreign Service Academy for nurturing the intellect and discipline of Nigeria’s young diplomats, while stressing the need to reposition the Academy as the cradle of modern Nigerian diplomacy.
“The neglect of the Foreign Service Academy is emblematic of the diminishing role of diplomacy and diplomats in governance. It is my mission to bring back statecraft to our relations with other countries. The starting point is with you, skilling our diplomats to compete in the 21st century,” he noted.
The Minister urged the new officers to uphold patriotism, integrity, and competence in representing Nigeria, emphasizing that the Foreign Service “is a calling to represent Nigeria’s dignity and aspirations.”
He reminded them that diplomacy today is being redefined by technology and artificial intelligence, noting that the Ministry had established an AI Desk and hosted a seminar on Artificial Intelligence in Modern Diplomacy to ensure Nigeria’s diplomacy remains adaptive and competitive.
Following a recent visit to the Academy’s permanent site in Badagry, Lagos, Ambassador Tuggar announced that a comprehensive curriculum review is underway to align training with contemporary global realities.
He also reiterated government’s determination to return the Academy to its permanent home through public–private partnerships and collaboration with development partners.
Highlighting the Tinubu administration’s foreign policy direction, the Minister said Nigeria’s diplomacy now rests on four pillars—Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora—which guide the nation’s engagement with the world.
“Our missions must serve as economic outposts, actively promoting investment, trade, and technology cooperation,” he said, urging diplomats to also defend Nigeria’s image against misinformation, particularly on issues of religion and human rights.
Similarly, the Director of the Foreign Service Academy, Ambassador Chikezie Ogu, described this cohort of graduates as one of the finest in recent years.
He noted that the officers were instilled with patriotism, faith, and the ethos of nationalism to prepare them for dedicated service to the nation through diplomacy.
Ambassador Ogu revealed that the course had been so impactful that it inspired one of the participants to author a book titled “Traits of a Diplomat,” which reflects the knowledge, skills, and sense of responsibility imparted during the training.
In the same vein, the Director-General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, represented by Musa Abubakar, urged the graduating officers to uphold professionalism, integrity, and adherence to the rules and regulations guiding public service in their duties to the nation.