By Heleen Udo,Abuja-NIGERIA.
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, on Tuesday declared open a seminar on Anticipatory, Cyber, and Digital Diplomacy in Abuja, stressing that Nigeria must position itself as a forward-looking actor in the global digital order.
Speaking before ministers, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and stakeholders, Tuggar said the convergence of disruptive technologies and shifting geopolitical realities was rewriting the foundations of diplomacy. He warned that Nigeria could not afford to remain a bystander.
The minister explained that anticipatory diplomacy would help Nigeria detect early warning signals and prepare for systemic shocks, while cyber diplomacy would strengthen the country’s ability to combat cybercrime, safeguard elections, protect critical infrastructure, and regulate artificial intelligence.
He noted that Nigeria had already experienced the dangers of unregulated technology, citing the suspension of social media platforms by a past government and the use of cryptocurrency by kidnappers and extremists. “These are real world consequences—lives lost, futures ruined, and the welfare of the many hijacked by the few,” he said.
Tuggar announced the creation of a dedicated Cyber Diplomacy Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a mandate to coordinate cyber-related foreign policy, build negotiating capacity, and ensure Nigeria’s influence in global cyberspace governance.
He also launched the Anticipatory, Cyber, and Digital Diplomacy Masterclass Series, a free platform on YouTube for diplomats from Africa and the Global South, which he described as “Nigeria’s digital gift to the world.”
Calling for private sector collaboration, he urged banks, telecoms, fintechs, start-ups, and the Nigerian diaspora to play key roles in protecting the nation’s digital interests. He further stressed that women and youth must be central to Nigeria’s cyber diplomacy strategies.
“The digital tomorrow is already upon us,” Tuggar declared. “Let us prepare for it together with courage, clarity, and unity of purpose.”
The seminar is expected to run for two days, with participants tasked to come up with actionable recommendations to strengthen Nigeria’s digital diplomacy.
