Nigeria Government is moving to the frontline of digital diplomacy with the launch of a Cyber Diplomacy Unit and a global Masterclass Series aimed at preparing diplomats for the fast-changing digital age.
Speaking at a high-level seminar in Abuja, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, said Nigeria must be proactive as technology reshapes global politics, security, and economics.
“Nigeria must not be a mere bystander. We must embed anticipatory, cyber, and digital diplomacy into the core of our foreign service, our national security architecture, and our multilateral engagements,” Tuggar said.
The new unit will drive Nigeria’s cyber foreign policy, strengthen negotiations, and push for ethical digital governance. Tuggar warned that unchecked digital disruptions from fake news to crypto-enabled crime — threaten lives, economies, and national stability.
He also unveiled the Anticipatory, Cyber, and Digital Diplomacy Masterclass Series on YouTube, describing it as Nigeria’s “digital gift to the world,” designed to train diplomats across Africa and the Global South.
Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in a goodwill message, stressed that the legal system must keep pace with technology.
“Our legal framework must be robust enough to deter cybercrimes, enforce justice, and foster international cooperation to protect digital sovereignty,” he said.
The two-day seminar, attended by diplomats, security chiefs, and tech experts, is expected to produce concrete strategies for Nigeria and Africa’s leadership in the digital age.
