Nigeria Unveils Cyber Diplomacy Unit to Boost Foreign Policy

By Iyojo Ameh

The Federal Government has established a Cyber Diplomacy Unit to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy framework and prepare its diplomats for the realities of the digital era.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, announced the initiative at a seminar on Anticipatory, Cyber, and Digital Diplomacy in Abuja. He explained that the new unit will help Nigeria confront global challenges such as cybercrime, cyberwarfare, and data privacy while promoting innovation, internet freedom, and multilateral cooperation.

“Our diplomats must be trained, not just to react, but to influence events before they unfold,” Tuggar said, unveiling a Masterclass Series for African and Global South diplomats, freely available on YouTube.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), welcomed the move, stressing that traditional diplomacy is inadequate in today’s interconnected world. He called for stronger legal frameworks to deter cybercrimes and protect digital sovereignty.

Also contributing, Prof. Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo urged the creation of a Directorate of Future Diplomacy and a Foreign Policy AI Lab to equip diplomats with digital literacy and foresight skills.

She warned that “the very nature of power and sovereignty is being rewritten,” and urged Nigeria to embrace a whole-of-nation approach to digital diplomacy.