Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Advancing Digital Diplomacy

Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to strengthening cyber and digital diplomacy as emerging technologies continue to reshape global governance, security and international relations.

This commitment was reiterated at the second edition of the Anticipatory Cyber and Digital Diplomacy Workshop organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the support of the British High Commission.

Opening the workshop, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, said information and communication technology and the ability of nations to adapt to changing global dynamics would increasingly shape the future of diplomacy.

On the theme, “From Awareness to Activation: Operationalising AI, Cyber and Digital Statecraft for Nigeria’s Foreign Policy,” Ambassador Enikanolaiye said the workshop was building on the success of its maiden edition which led to the establishment of the Ministry’s Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Diplomacy Unit.

He said the unit would coordinate Nigeria’s engagement with emerging technologies and strengthen the country’s engagement in global digital governance.

Ambassador Enikanolaiye charged participants to focus on practical outcomes noting that anticipatory diplomacy requires a shift from reactive to proactive engagement.

“By adopting AI, cyber capabilities and digital statecraft, Nigeria will broaden its diplomatic reach, enhance strategic communication and better promote its national interest,” he said.

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Also speaking, the Chairman, African Union Cybersecurity Experts Group, Abdul-Hakim Ajijola, said the workshop was to help Nigeria to prepare for future advances in technology rather than to react to them.

“We are looking at AI, quantum computing and drones. The questions for Nigeria are: how do we prepare, how do we benefit from these technologies and more importantly, how do we mitigate the risks they may bring?” Ajijola said.

“Cyber diplomacy has become more important because conflicts often start in cyberspace before they escalate into physical confrontations,” he said.

“Digital diplomacy is a means through which Nigeria is able to project its interests all over the world through digital platforms,” Ajijola said. He said the workshop was a follow-up on last year’s awareness campaign with emphasis on implementation.

According to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, the workshop was timely, adding that digital capability was becoming a major measure of national influence.

“Nigeria is already a digital leader in West Africa,” Dr Tijani said, citing the country’s communications satellites, its having the largest concentration of submarine internet cables in the region and its status as a regional data hub.

“We are a strong country in the digital space. Big tech companies are interested in how we organise ourselves and neighbouring countries benefit from our investments in digital infrastructure,” he said.

The workshop aimed at building Nigeria’s capacity in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital statecraft to enhance the country’s foreign policy objectives and participation in global digital governance.