Foreign service officers were commended by the federal government for establishing the Academy of International Affairs.
According to Vice President Kashim Shettima, the institution has a lot of potential to significantly enhance how Nigeria’s foreign policy is managed.
Shettima said that the academy opened at a time when it was most needed when he was speaking at its inauguration on Monday in Abuja.
Through his Special Advisor on Political Matters, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the Vice President stated, “This academy is emerging at a period of its greatest need.”
“The international environment is becoming increasingly more complex and more demanding of our best intellects, professionalism, commitments and visions to find spaces within areas demanding consensus, or in competitions with others and managing conflicts.
“Nigeria lives with historic limitations and multiple contemporary challenges, and we will not claim that we are self-sufficient in answers to dealing with poverty levels, limited resources for critical infrastructure and raising skilled and educated younger Nigerians.”
Shettima conveyed to the foreign service personnel that Nigeria required their assistance in tackling certain obstacles it was encountering.
“We will leave our doors open to this academy for ideas and recommendations. This academy will be a think tank we cannot afford to ignore. We need your input on achieving our priorities in the contexts of often harsh and unforgiving circumstances.”
The Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu, according to Shettima, acknowledged the seriousness of the country’s problems but expressed confidence that Nigeria will overcome them.
“What we need is faith and support, the same assets that saw us through major challenges in our past.
“We need to begin to think of a future full of opportunities as well. In the next two decades, Nigeria will have one of the largest, youngest and most enterprising populations in a world that will be aging and changing,” the VP said.
In his speech, former Head of State of Nigeria Gen. Yakubu Gowon asked the officers to work with the Tinubu-led administration to make sure Nigeria continued to be a worldwide voice.
Gowon stated, “This is timely when our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is the leader of ECOWAS and quite visibly promoting Nigeria’s global image, and all efforts to save ECOWAS.
“While there are several government agencies that are created to perform vital roles in formulating and implementing foreign policy, the wisdom and experience of private citizens with many years of foreign service are invaluable.
“I therefore urge you, Academy for International Affairs, to offer your services and collaborate with this and successive administrations to ensure that Nigeria’s rightful place as a global voice and leadership is secured at all times.”
The founder of AIA, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi said, “In setting up this academy, we are not only doing Nigeria a favour but we are doing ourselves a favour.
“I hope in our activities, this mutual favour will manifest itself in cooperation.”
The academy inducted twenty-four fellows, four honorary fellows, and two regular fellows.
