ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government is set to introduce a mentorship and capacity-building programme for young diplomats as part of efforts to reform and strengthen Nigeria’s Foreign Service.
The initiative will draw on the expertise of retired ambassadors, who are to be formally integrated into training, policy advisory and institutional development roles within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The development was disclosed by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, during a meeting with a delegation of retired diplomats led by Ambassador Roddy Igwebuike Nwokeabia.
Details were contained in a statement issued by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Enikanolaiye said the planned framework would provide structured mentorship for younger Foreign Service officers, enabling them to benefit from the experience, professional ethics and leadership insights of senior diplomats.
“Our goal is to build a stronger, more professional Foreign Service by connecting experience with the next generation of diplomats,” he said.
He added that retired ambassadors would also participate in policy retreats, seminars and strategic consultations to support Nigeria’s foreign policy direction.
The minister emphasised that leveraging institutional memory is critical to sustaining continuity and improving the effectiveness of Nigeria’s engagements globally.
Earlier, Ambassador Nwokeabia, speaking on behalf of the retired diplomats, described Enikanolaiye’s appointment as timely and expressed confidence in his ability to drive reforms within the ministry.
He said the group was committed to supporting the government through mentoring, advisory roles and contributions to policy initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic service.
The delegation stressed that sustained engagement with retired envoys is essential for preserving institutional knowledge and ensuring continuity in the country’s foreign policy implementation.
Both sides agreed on the need for closer collaboration between serving and retired diplomats to enhance professionalism, build capacity and advance Nigeria’s national interests on the global stage.
