Nigeria, the giant of Africa with a population of more than 200 million people, one of the continent’s largest economies, and a cultural powerhouse, has, over the years taken bold steps on the world stage.
Since its independence in 1960, Nigeria has been a bold voice both on the African continent and internationally.
At its 65th independence anniversary, Africa is beckoning Nigeria to re-evaluate its stance on global conversations to lead the continent right.
In the West African region, Nigeria has been a consistent peacekeeper, deploying troops through ECOMOG in the 1990s to restore peace and order in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and more recently, contributing significantly to ECOWAS efforts in The Gambia to enforce democratic transition.
These interventions cemented Nigeria’s reputation as a regional stabiliser, even when there are some domestic challenges.
Beyond Africa, Nigeria has sought strong economic partnerships with Europe and the United States, while at the same time deepening ties with China, which has become one of its largest trade and infrastructure partners.
Its participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, for example, has brought investment in railways, energy, and ports, among others.
In multilateral diplomacy, Nigeria has been vocal in global climate negotiations, pushing for greater support to African nations affected by climate change, despite contributing the least to global emissions.
And for decades, Nigeria has continued to push for a Permanent Seat on the United Nations Security Council, arguing rightly that Africa’s most populous nation and largest democracy deserves a voice at the highest level of global decision-making.
Under President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria has pursued a more assertive foreign policy posture.
As Chairman of ECOWAS, President Tinubu led regional responses to the Niger coup in 2023, insisting on a return to constitutional order while balancing diplomacy with pressure.
On the global stage, Nigeria under President Tinubu joined the G20 as a permanent invitee, a key step in enhancing the country and indeed Africa’s influence on global economic decisions.
He has also encouraged strategic partnerships, such as reaching an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to lift the long-standing visa ban on Nigerians, strengthening defence and security cooperation with the United States, advancing energy partnerships with China, and exploring greater trade and investment opportunities with India during the G20 summit in New Delhi.
These engagements underscore Nigeria’s renewed attempt to reassert itself as both an African leader and a global player.
Still, the opportunities are undeniable. Nigeria’s soft power is already global. Afro beats dominate international charts, Nollywood films are streamed worldwide, Nigerian writers shape global debates, and Lagos’s tech ecosystem is attracting global investors.
These cultural and creative exports form a powerful tool of diplomacy, winning hearts where politics cannot, shaping perceptions in ways that treaties or communiqués never could.
Despite these efforts, Nigeria, like some other countries, is faced with domestic challenges of insecurity, as the case of Boko Haram, inflation, and unemployment. When a government is battling these deep domestic issues, it becomes difficult to project a consistent foreign policy or play the role of regional leader with audacity; as such, more effort needs to be channelled into overcoming these challenges.
It must rebuild trust with its neighbour in ECOWAS, especially at a time when regional politics are shifting, with coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger challenging democratic norms.
Nigeria must also continue to strengthen ties with African partners through the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area, positioning itself as the economic engine of a more integrated Africa.
At the same time, it should embrace economic diplomacy, secure fairer trade and investment deals with global partners, ensuring that Nigerian interests are not sidelined in relations with powerful economies like China, the US, or the EU.
Furthermore, Nigeria should invest more in professional diplomacy by training envoys, strengthening missions abroad, and leveraging the Diaspora as ambassadors of national interest.
Despite the daunting challenges, Nigeria must not give up and also not shy away from forming a coalition by building strategic partnerships and collaborations with African States to amplify a collective voice in global governance debates, especially the push for UN Security Council reform.
The world is entering a multi-polar era, with power shifting between Washington, Beijing, Moscow, and emerging centres in the Global South.
This is precisely the moment for Africa’s giant to find its place at the table and cement its place as the giant of Africa.