Nigeria Launches Cyber Diplomacy Unit to Strengthen Foreign Policy.
By Caroline Ameh
The Federal Government has launched a Cyber Diplomacy Unit to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture and equip diplomats with the tools needed to navigate the challenges of the digital age.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, announced the initiative at a seminar on Anticipatory, Cyber, and Digital Diplomacy in Abuja.
Tuggar said the purpose of cyber diplomacy is to ensure systems keep pace with technological change, promote innovation, and safeguard national stability and freedom. He stressed that Nigeria must position itself as a principled, capable, and forward-looking player in the evolving global digital order.
“Cyber diplomacy is about reaching global standards to combat cybercrime and cyberwarfare, balancing national sovereignty with bilateral treaties and multilateral cooperation. It is about working together on data privacy, internet freedom, and control over information,” Tuggar explained.
He also underscored the importance of anticipatory diplomacy, which he said helps diplomats foresee systemic shocks, detect early warning signals, and influence events before they unfold. As part of this effort, he announced the launch of the Anticipatory, Cyber, and Digital Diplomacy Masterclass Series for African and Global South diplomats, available freely on YouTube.
“This is Nigeria’s digital gift to the world,” the minister said, adding that partnerships with the private sector, financial institutions, telecoms, fintechs, start-ups, and the Nigerian diaspora will be crucial in advancing the country’s digital diplomacy agenda.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), in his goodwill message, said traditional diplomacy was no longer sufficient in a digital world. He emphasized the need for a robust legal framework to deter cybercrime, enforce justice, and foster international cooperation.
“Anticipatory diplomacy is a proactive strategy that moves beyond reacting to crises. It involves developing foresight to identify and address potential challenges before they escalate,” Fagbemi said.
Also speaking, Prof. Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo urged Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to adapt its foreign policy to the realities of the digital era. She called for the creation of a Directorate of Future Diplomacy, a Foreign Policy AI Lab, and reforms in diplomatic training curricula to include foresight, technology policy, and digital public diplomacy.
“The very nature of power, influence, and sovereignty is being rewritten. Nigeria must not be left behind,” she said, stressing that the country, as a regional power, should adopt a whole-of-nation approach to digital diplomacy.
