By Adesewa Oyinloye The year-long programme to celebrate 25th years of the ECOWAS Parliament service to the peoples of West Africa has kicked off in Abuja, Nigeria with a Press Conference by the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima…
Soft power diplomacy in its glory: Why alumni networks matter for Nigeria–Belgium relations
By Collins Nweke When His Excellency Pieter Leenknegt, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Nigeria, convened Nigerian alumni of Belgian universities at his official residence in Abuja, it was more than a ceremonial reception. It was a masterclass in…
Diaspora Health Diplomacy: Strategic capital for healthcare renaissance of Nigeria
By Collins Nweke As Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) adopts health as the central theme of its Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (DHII) 2026, Nigeria has an opportunity to elevate diaspora engagement from symbolic outreach to a durable strategy for…
From survival to strategy: The entrepreneurs who built Somaliland
By Sunday Oyinloye For Somaliland’s President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, the recognition of his country by Israel is not only historic but the fulfillment of a long-held dream after years of intense diplomatic lobbying. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said…
The politics in communicating U.S. terror strikes in Nigeria
By Collins Nweke The apparent divergence between Washington and Abuja’s accounts of the reported airstrikes on terrorist targets in Nigeria is best understood not as a contradiction, but as a function of different diplomatic responsibilities and political audiences. The United…
A Profile in Soft Power Diplomacy
By Collins Nweke It was an interview clip just under three minutes. Its title was not only inviting, but it also spoke volumes: Culture creates instant people-to-people connection in a way that no other action can. As I heard his…
Pivoting Nigeria with UNGA 80 speech from development to moral diplomacy
By Collins Nweke At the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima took the global stage with a speech that was as forceful as it was symbolic. His remarks, centered on the ongoing Gaza conflict, marked a…
A legacy of diplomacy: Ambassador Onowu bows out after 32 years in service
By Sunday Oyinloye The event was tagged “informal retirement from service get-together for Ambassador Obinna Onowu” and held in his residence in Abuja, Nigeria, but the caliber of attendees made it more glorious than a formal get-together. It was an…
NiDCOM controversy and the urgency of ethnic governance reform
By Collins Nweke The recent uproar over a social media post shared by the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, which described the Igbo ethnic group in derogatory terms, has once again brought to the…
Global Lessons from the US Visa Policy
By Collins Nweke The United States Embassy in Nigeria recently reminded visa applicants that they must now list every social media handle they have used over the last five years on the DS-160 visa form. Applicants must certify that…
