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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Director, International Organizations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Samson Itegboje, has said that strong diplomacy is key to the functioning of a strong country.
Itegboje made the submission while delivering the anniversary lecture on the occasion of the 88th birthday celebration of the Esama of Benin Kingdom and Chancellor, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion.
The lecture delivered by the immediate past Nigerian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York, United States, was titled ‘Diplomacy and Nigeria’s Fortunes: Private Sector Action Through Education, Practice and More.’
Itegboje told the audience that a nation’s fortune is often tied to, and reflected in its economy.
He also said even foreign policy has been equated to being as strong or otherwise, as the local currency.
He added that his proposition was that a nation’s fortune is clearly decipherable from its diplomatic strength which includes the viability of its foreign policy, the aptitude of its diplomats and the resources at their disposal.
“In other words, a strong diplomacy is key to the functioning of a strong country and vice-versa. A simple assessment of the global diplomatic landscape will reveal that the countries with the most effective diplomacy also happen to be the countries with the most thriving economies. But in what order? The chicken or the egg?” Itegboje asked.
Speaking further, Itegboje said it was imperative for countries to continue to seize every opportunity at strengthening their diplomatic credentials, including setting strategic foreign policy agenda.
He stated that Nigeria has done well in that circumstance, as its diplomatic assets and credentials remain glowing around the world.
Itegboje also said through diplomacy, Nigeria played a significant role in ending racial discrimination in apartheid South Africa, questioned international injustice in the Congo, French high-handed nuclear proliferation in the Sahara, and American meddlesomeness in Angola, among several others.
He added that while Nigeria continued to engage bilaterally and multilaterally within the international system, it was clear that challenges have occurred due to dwindling resources.
This, Itegboje noted, has had significant effect, particularly when the nation needed to take cost-cutting measures.
He further said that public opinion is usually turned against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as government is pressured to pursue a policy of closing diplomatic missions.
Itegboje harped on the funding of diplomacy and foreign missions across the globe, which he said, continued to face significant challenges as budgetary allocations for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have declined in the past decade, making it difficult for the diplomatic missions to discharge their bilateral, consular and multilateral functions.
He quoted a retired diplomat and former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, who said “the funding challenge of Nigeria’s foreign policy is another major constraint in the attainment of set diplomatic objectives.”
Itegboje added that the decisions to underfund diplomacy and disincentivize foreign policy has significant negative implication.
He also said that despite the enormous diplomatic pedigree of many African nations, the situation today is that most of them, including Nigeria, in the practice of diplomacy, almost entirely revolve around the quest for foreign direct investments, economic and budgetary aid, external support for national programmes and projects, solicitations for humanitarian assistance towards regions ravaged by wars or natural disasters, the transfer of technology, defence cooperation, technical assistance and cooperation, among others.
“While there is nothing wrong in seeking any of the aforementioned, it is important to note that diplomacy should go beyond always expecting handouts.
“It is for this reason that the private sector is important. Among other things, there is a reservoir of resources available to the private sector that can benefit the government, in the discharge of its duties. This is where the activities of Chief Igbinedion become important,” Itegboje also said.
