Nigeria is currently the focus of the rest of the world as she occupies the position of the rotational presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of August. The position provides an ample opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate her potential as a global leader.
Nigeria was elected to serve from July 31st in this most important and powerful decision-making organ of the United Nations. Prof. Joy Ogwu, Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary to the United Nations, is currently performing a good job as president.
What Nigeria makes of this opportunity for Africa will be a test of its foreign affairs initiatives. It comes at a time when Nigeria is still earning goodwill as a result of a peaceful transition from one democratic government to another with President Muhammad Buhari enjoying a honeymoon period.
The demand for Nigeria, with all its human and natural resources, to reposition itself to an enviable height is on the top burner of most admirers of this potentially rich nation. There is no better time for a turnaround than now with a new government promising change.
The role expected of Nigeria goes beyond exemplary leadership in Africa. There is a challenging role for Nigeria in world politics. The most populous nation in Africa has to be in the forefront of global political decision-making. To effectively take up this position Nigeria must deploy its best talents to key positions in world bodies such as the United Nations and in strategic embassies like Britain and America. The right choice of ambassadors could turn the ties between Nigeria and the UK/US to economic advantage; reversing the current trade imbalance in favour of Nigeria in a few years.
This period of international goodwill presents Nigeria with an opportunity to redeem its image in tandem with the mood for change of its citizenry and expectations from friends across the world. In the spirit of the clamour for change and international support, expectations are that the government will deploy core professionals in their areas of specialisation to serve in various posts at home and overseas.
With the recent recall of non-career diplomats from ambassadorial postings by the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, the signs are that the government may be planning a radical departure from the practise of the past where politicians are posted as ambassadors over career diplomats.
In the spirit of the change process Nigeria is presently undergoing, it is hoped that the UK and USA will be treated differently as this is a time for government to get serious with the selection of the country’s representatives for these diplomatic postings.
One cannot overemphasise the importance of America in global politics or Britain’s historical ties to Nigeria and economic importance as Europe’s leading financial city. The Buhari administration will have to be strategic in the selection of its envoys by ensuring the posts are carefully filled to serve the government’s global economic and political aspirations.
In exempting these two embassies from party political postings, expectations are that the government must take the opportunity to reposition Nigeria amongst the league of respectable nations.
Drawing on the recent service delivery record rendered by Nigeria’s High Commission in London by the outgoing High Commissioner Dr. Tafida, one can conclude that Nigerians in the Diaspora with their huge remittances and willingness to contribute to their home country’s development has never had it so good.
Fears and apprehension can best describe the mood of many Nigerians in the UK as the news spread of an end to the tenure of Nigeria’s High Commissioner in the UK, His Excellency Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida OFR, CFR. Many are wondering who will succeed this great man, whose achievements during his time of service distinguished him from those before him.
Nigerians in the UK dread a return to the days when one would have to be personally acquainted with someone working at the Mission to access the services one required. But one thing that remained very clear is that UK Nigerians will never allow the gains made during Dr. Tafida’s era to be reversed. Whoever cannot build on the good foundations already set can be sure of a running battle that will attract the wrath of President Buhari.
The High Commissioner to the Court of St James’s, who presented his letter of credence to the Queen on 30 May 2008, eventually departed the UK for Nigeria on Saturday 15 August after a meritorious service. Dr. Tafida will not be forgotten for a long time. Days after his departure, many are gazing at their crystal ball to see whom it will deliver.
In a move to immortalise him for a job well done, the senior staff and section heads at London’s Nigeria High Commission were unanimous in their decision to name the Banking Hall of the Mission after him.
The renaming ceremony, which many described as a master stroke, took place on Friday 14th August 2015 with the approval of the Permanent Secretary and acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Bulus Lolo, who also sent in a letter of commendation.
At the brief and private ceremony, plaques were unveiled on the wall of the new Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida Hall. As the news filtered out to the community, many commended the decision as appropriate and merited. Some recalled the state of the Mission before Dr. Tafida took over. The floor was in an appalling state with half torn linoleum flooring and cracked walls. Dr. Tafida brought about a new dawn and the venue suddenly began to host diplomatic functions.
Nigeria will now need to foster partnerships on a global stage, and the pedigrees of the ambassador to the US and UK are pivotal. Apart from feeding the government at home with current updates on issues of bilateral relationship, Nigeria requires ambassadors who will be strategic on foreign and security policy issues and global cooperation; and forces to be reckoned with in proffering solutions to global problems. This is especially the case if Nigeria is to be granted a permanent seat as a member of United Nations Security Council. This is a position that Nigeria must lead Africa to campaign vigorously to attain.
