Nigeria is moving from traditional diplomacy to a more proactive, technology-driven foreign policy, with the establishment of a dedicated Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Diplomacy Unit, the Federal Government has announced.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while opening the Second Seminar on Anticipatory, Cyber and Digital Diplomacy (ACDD 2.0).
According to him, the newly created unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate Nigeria’s engagement on emerging technologies and strengthen its role in global digital governance.
“A significant outcome of the inaugural seminar was the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Diplomacy Unit… to ensure that our diplomatic engagements reflect the strategic implications of emerging technologies,” he said.
Enikanolaiye stressed that Nigeria must adopt anticipatory diplomacy by shifting from reactive responses to forward-looking strategies driven by data, innovation and digital tools.
“Anticipatory diplomacy requires a shift from reactive approaches to proactive engagement,” he said, noting that artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital technologies are redefining global diplomacy.
He added that the lines between diplomacy, economics, security and technology are increasingly blurred, requiring a more integrated approach to foreign policy.
The seminar, themed “From Awareness to Activation: Operationalising AI, Cyber and Digital Statecraft for Nigeria’s Foreign Policy,” brought together diplomats, ICT experts, academics and development partners to explore practical solutions.
Enikanolaiye urged participants to develop actionable strategies that will enhance Nigeria’s diplomatic capacity and global competitiveness.
He also highlighted the importance of collaboration among government institutions, academia and international partners to build a resilient and digitally competent foreign service.
The initiative, he said, reflects the Ministry’s commitment under the leadership of Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu to modernise Nigeria’s diplomacy and strengthen its global influence.
He expressed optimism that the seminar would produce recommendations to position Nigeria at the forefront of digital diplomacy in Africa and beyond.
