Nigeria Needs Ambassadors to Stay Relevant Globally – Prof. Kwaja

Nigeria risks being sidelined in critical international conversations without ambassadors representing its interests, according to Prof. Chris Kwaja, an international relations scholar at Modibbo Adama University, Yola.

                                                

Speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, Prof. Kwaja stressed that Nigeria cannot play a meaningful role in global affairs without functional diplomatic missions and accredited ambassadors.

Kwaja explained that the absence of ambassadors has left Nigeria without a voice in major international discussions.

“It has huge implications for a country like Nigeria diplomatically. For you to be an important actor in the international system, you must have functional missions. You must have ambassadors that are representatives of the president of this country,” he said.

He noted that currently Nigeria:

• Has no permanent representative at the United Nations.

• Lacks ambassadors in Grade A countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, and Canada.

According to Kwaja, this vacuum means Nigeria is:

• Excluded from key talks on trade, security, and military cooperation.

• Unable to influence global debates involving major powers like Russia and the US.

• At risk of being “totally shut out” of the international system.

As Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, Nigeria’s absence at the ambassadorial level undermines its ability to project influence and protect national interests abroad.