Author: The Nation

Contemporary diplomatic duty is not a tea party. It does not carry the same colouration as the usual job for the boys. It is a very serious and highly sensitive business. It requires deftness, wisdom, manoeuvring, understanding, calculations, and swiftness. In many situations, every minute counts.

In a world where might befuddles rationality and propels the “powerful” to trample on small nations’ rights, diplomacy must be deployed to navigate through the times of turbulence to avoid casualties and regrets. Ambassadors reflect the power, integrity, and dignity of their countries and the readiness to maintain visibility in the comity of nations as well as retain a compelling relevance in global affairs.

It is a special honour for a citizen to be chosen from the crowd to represent his or her country in another country as an ambassador.

Their Excellences are like the president of the country in their places of assignment, either as careerists or non-career high commissioners.

As the highest-ranking diplomat in another nation, the ambassador acts as the primary link in promoting political, economic, and cultural ties. He represents the home government’s interests, protects its citizens abroad, and reports on the host country’s situation to inform foreign policy decisions. The ambassador manages the embassy, oversees government personnel, and works to build strong bilateral relations through negotiation and cultural exchange.

As a political representative, the ambassador is the communicator of official positions and reactions, whose primary assignment is to maintain dialogue with the authorities of the host country. Citizens run to him for rights and welfare protection, particularly during emergencies.

The countries of the world look for prosperity. This imposes on the chief diplomat the task of economic diplomacy, which involves the promotion of trade and investment, the discovery and creation of business opportunities between his country and the host country.

The ambassador is not expected to be a sleeping official. He should be a researcher who is adept at information gathering and analysis, using the correct tools. The information about the host nation’s socio-economic and political developments can be used to advise the home government in reshaping foreign relations.

The promotion of friendliness is key. Countries can become allies, not through military and economic cooperation alone, but also through sheer educational initiatives and cultural exchange to foster mutual goodwill and understanding.

To underscore his status in the world, the ambassador enjoys diplomatic immunity, and he is protected by international law. Other countries listen when he speaks because his words carry the seal, weight and power of the home government. He is not only the official spokesperson but also a world leader in his own right, saddled with the responsibility of standing in the gap, leading a diplomatic mission and acting as a point of contact for international organisations and other foreign officials.

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Eminent politician, Dr. Eniola Ajayi, who was once Ekiti State Education Commissioner and later Nigeria’s Ambassador to The Netherlands, with concurrent accreditation to Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2021 – 2023), summarised the scope of diplomatic duties under four broad headlines: inclusion, investment drive, image building and innovation. She catalogued her experience in a book: ‘Mastering Diplomacy: Essential Guide to International Relations,’ which offers better insights into the challenges of foreign relations and ambassadorial postings.

As the recently appointed 69 envoys prepare to go to their stations, it is important, apart from the training or seminar being organised for them, to learn from the experience of those before them.

Four categories of ambassadors will be posted to different countries by the President, either as career or non-career envoys. The first are tested hands, experts and professionals. The second are reputable individuals, like Chief Simeon Adebo and Dr. Christopher Kolade, both of the old dispensation. The third are politicians who are being rewarded or compensated for previous political works. The fourth are a few hustlers, attention-seeking folks who need postings for relevance and enjoyment.

Ajayi, who spoke on a national television programme, comes across as a diplomacy tutor. She stressed the value of preparation, which greatly enhances learning and coping as an accidental nominee, without the requisite knowledge about the journey.

In her view, the President has the right – the prerogative – to appoint anybody to, first and foremost, represent him and the larger country, although screening by the Senate is constitutionally required. Equity also demands that the list is representative of the country’s diversity because talents abound across the 36 states. Any glaring case of marginalisation, therefore, is antithetical to democratic inclusion.

However, the personal life and quality of nominees matter a lot because in their letters of appointment, it is stated that the person has been found worthy in character and given authority to execute their mission as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

The delay in the appointment of ambassadors can create a void, as underscored by the recent misunderstanding of the security situation in Nigeria by the United States. Ajayi said the truth is that a lot of problems could have been averted if Nigeria had an ambassador in the country. Although there are other officials at the embassy, they lack the accreditation, authorisation and competence to represent Nigeria because of the shortfall in ranking. The implication is that these officials may not be invited to places where they can play ambassadorial roles.

For those criticising the list of nominees, Ajayi offers some significant insights. Many factors were taken into consideration, ranging from the particular needs of different countries to Nigeria’s expectations and antecedents, as well as the pedigree of the nominees. For example, the military background of nominees may be a factor. Only a Christian could be sent as an envoy to the Vatican and a Muslim to Saudi Arabia, in trying to meet the criteria of sensitivity and sensibility.

Education, scholarship, public status and past meritorious service to the nation may be responsible for nominating former presidents, Generals and ex-Supreme Court judges for the job.

Ajayi noted that there are diverse levels of postings. Career diplomats and highly knowledgeable people are usually sent to places of multilateral engagement, like the United Nations, the European Union, and major countries, where skills and competence are needed for the initiation and implementation of agreements.

This is why orientation programmes usually precede postings. This is also the reason, as Ajayi explained, a Station Charter is given to each ambassador so that he or she would know what is expected in the country of assignment, for the promotion of cordial relations, robust representation and trade improvement.

The understanding of the Nigerian foreign policy, which is Afrocentrism and non-alignment, is also crucial. It has not changed over time. Ajayi said: “We (Nigeria) don’t carry baggage; we are friends of all, enemy to none.” Nigeria does not take sides, and intelligent and informed positions are taken, based on diplomacy, which is the application of tact and reason.

Ambassadorial responsibilities are huge to bear. Paucity pf funds could hinder effective performance. Ajayi acknowledged that this is true of many missions. To overcome the constraints, she called for a sort of staff reduction instead of spending a humongous amount on administrative attaches. The funding in the budget is not in dollars but in Naira. To facilitate easy access, the former ambassador said the funding should be from the first line charge.

Foreign relations are costly, but it is more costly to ignore them. Demonstrating the imperative of diplomatic tact and speed, Ajayi recalled how a row nearly broke out over a boy who hid an explosive in his pants, which was discovered inside the aircraft. The Nigerian diplomat rose swiftly and explained to the country of assignment that it was a one-off case and that the boy’s father had earlier reported his suspicion to the police.

The new ambassadors can tap from the experience, knowledge and skills of accomplished ambassadors, like Ajayi did when she contacted Ambassador Ayo Olukanmi, who instantly recommended to her a book by the late Ambassador Olusola Sanu. In her testimony, as a lifelong learner, she also learnt about diplomatic etiquette from the wife of former Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.

As she did in the Netherlands, the new ambassadors are to organise receptions for all their counterparts from other countries after presenting their letters of credence.

Most importantly, the quest for prosperity in the contemporary world imposes on ambassadors the task of attracting investment by “making sure that what should come to Nigeria comes, and the country is also able to put its goods abroad for sale”.

These days, investment is the major target of diplomacy. It is central to the economic survival of nations.

Nigerian citizens abroad should feel the impact of the ambassadors through inclusion and accessibility. In promoting the image of the country, they may need to emulate the style of Ajayi, who set up a vibrant website and a beautiful social media handle.

Ajayi’s final advice on innovative diplomacy: “In your service delivery, in your representation, you must be robust. You should be prepared to deliver with dignity, respect, humility, a beautiful smile, and you will be accomplished.”