By Ayobami Ayorinde | On 17th April 2025, Agora Policy hosted the inaugural session of the Agora Policy Forum, which attracted the crème of the academia, civil society and diplomatic corps in Abuja and was headlined by Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Agora Policy Forum is designed to facilitate structured and frank interactions between senior government officials and informed members of the public about current and emerging public policies: an opportunity for public officials to speak about the rationale, the direction and the content of public policies and for critical stakeholders to give considered feedback. The forum is supported by the MacArthur Foundation as part of the Policy Support, Deepening and Engagement (PSDE) project which is being implemented by Agora Policy.

Themed “Nigeria’s Foreign Policy at a Time of Global Uncertainty,” the event had in attendance over 70 participants drawn from various sectors, including public service, academia, civil society and the diplomatic community. In her welcome address, the Chair of the Board of Agora Policy, Ms. Ojobo Atuluku, emphasised how the work of the organisation, with the support of the MacArthur Foundation, is advancing dialogue and promoting evidence-based policies. Dr. Kole Shettima, the Country Director of the MacArthur Foundation, delivered the goodwill message and mentioned that policy is critical to the foundation and that Nigerian institutions should be the principal platforms through which the policies for the country are articulated, debated, designed and implemented.

Afterwards, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar delivered his opening statement and thereafter had a fireside chat with Mr. Waziri Adio, the founder of Agora Policy. This was followed by a robust question and answer session. Notable personalities at the conversation included Amb. Joe Keshi, former Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Amb. Miriam Morales Palmero, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria; Dr. Jugoslav Vukadinovic, the Serbian Ambassador to Nigeria; Dr. Husseini Abdu, Director, Save the Children International; Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, SSA to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations; Prof. Jideofor Adibe, columnist and Political Science lecturer at Nasarawa State University; Mr. Dapo Oyewole, SSA to the President on International Cooperation; Prof. Tochukwu Okeke, History lecturer/Africa-China expert, University of Abuja; Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman Editorial Board of ThisDay Newspapers; and Amb. Zainab Ali Kototo, retired diplomat.

Other dignitaries at the event included: Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, Registrar of Baze University; Mrs. Obehi Ogbeh, Chairperson of the Business & Professional Women Nigeria; Dr. Fola Aina, Lecturer at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London; Dr. Dauda Garuba, Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD); Mr. Amara Nwankpa, Acting Director General of the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation; Dr. Simeon Uwa, retired diplomat; Dr. Kabir Adamu, CEO Beacon Security Consulting; Mr. Samson Itodo, Executive Director, YIAGA Africa; and Dr. Umar Yakubu, Executive Director, Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity.

In addition to the 4Ds (democracy, development, demography and diaspora), Amb Tuggar laid out four strategic pillars on which Nigeria’s foreign policy will stand in this period of global uncertainty: strategic autonomy; economic diplomacy and sustainable development; security and regional stability; and a more inclusive world order.

Below are some key takeaways from the event:

Nigeria To Assert Greater Strategic Autonomy and Multilateralism

As global power shifts toward multipolarity, the minister remarked that Nigeria must assert autonomy from dominant powers while being open to engage with emerging powers like China, India, Brazil and traditional powers like the U.S. at the EU, so it can shape outcomes in line with its national interests rather than react to external agendas or appease any hegemon. He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to reforming and strengthening global institutions in an era of straining multilateralism by advocating for permanent African seats on the UN Security Council, championing Global South interests in G77, BRICS+, and Commonwealth, and pursuing climate diplomacy for just transition financing.

Foreign Policy Should Favour Diplomacy Over Force

In his keynote speech, the minister noted that despite the fact that the international order is currently undergoing a profound change, marked by increasing geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, technological advancements, and climate crises, “Nigeria must adopt a dynamic, strategic, and pragmatic foreign policy that emphasises diplomacy over militarisation.” Reflecting on Nigeria’s history from military interventions in West Africa to peaceful political transitions, he stressed that the true success of diplomacy lies in what is prevented and not only in what is achieved. He underscored that diplomacy must always lead and Nigeria would continue to adopt a foreign policy that safeguards national interests and stays committed to democratic values and multilateral engagement.

ECOWAS Remains Ready to Re-admit Suspended Countries

The minister affirmed that suspended members of the ECOWAS community remain welcome to return and re-engage. He mentioned that even within the bloc, there are sub-groupings such as the Mano River Union and that bilaterally, Nigeria and Niger still maintain their joint commission- the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission, which is being sought for reinvigoration as a vehicle for micro-diplomacy. Amb. Tuggar noted that ECOWAS has achieved significant progress such as the operation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme and the digitisation of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor. He also noted that the SIGMAT system is streamlining customs procedures; and the West Africa Gas Pipeline running from Nigeria to Ghana is active, with planned extensions to Morocco to link members. He acknowledged ongoing challenges such as the FATF grey-listing, financial-action requirements, relocations of health organisations, and the fluctuation in membership (from 15 to 16, back to 15, and now 12), but affirmed that ECOWAS continues to draw attention to these issues and to pursue solutions.

Absence of Ambassadors Does Not Necessarily Mean Inactive Missions

Amb Tuggar noted that the absence of ambassadors does not mean the country’s missions are inactive as career diplomats continue to run the diplomatic missions. However, he emphasized that for Nigeria to participate fully especially in multilateral forums, there is a need for ambassadors and heads of mission to be appointed. He further noted that the politicisation of ambassadorial appointments is a major challenge which predated the current administration but he promised that new ambassadors would be nominated soon.

Functional Local Governance is Key to Tackling Insurgency

According to the minister, the failure of governance at the local level across both Anglophone and Francophone countries which has resulted in non-functioning local councils is one of the drivers of insecurity, coups and insurgency in West Africa. He mentioned that wherever local governance had collapsed, groups promising order such as Boko Haram and various bandit networks moved into such areas to fill the vacuum. He charged that credible elections and efficient local administration would be needed across the region.

Economic Diplomacy is Central to Sustainable Development

Economic diplomacy, Amb. Tuggar said, will be central to attracting investment, expanding trade, and securing development financing. He noted that Nigeria will leverage the AfCFTA, the Trans-Saharan and Nigeria-Morocco gas pipelines as flagship initiatives to diversify markets and reinforce its role as a regional economic hub, while deepening partnerships in renewables, technology transfer, and industrialisation to integrate into new global value chains.

 Below are some of the personalities at the event: