Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, OON, has called for a bold new approach to economic diplomacy, regional integration, and evidence-based policymaking as part of the Federal Government’s broader vision to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth by 2030. Speaking at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31) held in Abuja, the Minister hailed the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) as one of the country’s most enduring platforms for democratic dialogue and economic reform, describing it as “a cornerstone of Nigeria’s development architecture and a vital pillar of governance and innovation.”
In his address, Ambassador Tuggar commended the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the NESG for maintaining three decades of consistent engagement between the public and private sectors — a collaboration he said has played a defining role in shaping Nigeria’s economic destiny. “Over the past thirty years, the Summit has evolved from an annual event into an institution of renewal — an arena where ideas meet action and where both government and business leaders chart a shared vision for Nigeria’s future,” he noted.
The Minister described this year’s summit theme, “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030,” as timely and visionary, adding that Nigeria has entered a critical reform era where policy transformation is no longer optional but essential to restoring macroeconomic stability and investor confidence.
According to Tuggar, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is implementing bold and people-centered reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on fiscal consolidation, monetary stability, and inclusive development. “These reforms are catalysing growth, enhancing investor confidence, and reigniting the productive capacity of this great nation,” he said. “Most importantly, they are beginning to deliver visible results — not just in the numbers, but in the lived experiences of ordinary Nigerians.”
Emphasizing that Nigeria’s foreign policy must directly advance its economic interests, Ambassador Tuggar revealed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is prioritizing strategic trade partnerships, unlocking cross-border markets, and attracting foreign investment to strengthen domestic production. He explained that the ministry’s work is guided by Nigeria’s 4D Foreign Policy Doctrine — Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora, a framework designed to integrate diplomacy with economic and demographic realities.
“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria’s foreign policy is defined by strategic autonomy,” Tuggar said. “We pursue partnerships of purpose, not alliances of obligation. Nigeria must reject binary ideological alignments and instead embrace issue-based relationships that serve our national interests. We are too significant a nation to engage in bandwagon diplomacy.”
Tuggar also underscored the importance of regional cooperation in achieving sustainable growth, citing the recent launch of the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) as a crucial step toward deepening cross-border industrialization, infrastructure development, and trade integration. “Nigeria’s prosperity is tied to West Africa’s progress,” he declared. “The more we invest in regional value chains and policy harmonization, the stronger, more resilient, and globally competitive our subregion becomes.”
He pointed to successful models such as MIKTA — the economic partnership among Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkiye, and Australia — as examples of how countries with shared ambitions can cooperate to accelerate industrialization and development. He also referenced the Flying Geese Paradigm of East Asia, where nations industrialized in sequential order, each benefiting from the progress of the other. “With our demographic weight, market size, and strategic geography, Nigeria has the scale and capacity to lead Africa’s own ‘flying geese’ formation,” Tuggar asserted. “But leadership must be earned — through sound policies, productive investments, regional coordination, and credible institutions.”
The Foreign Minister further called for greater collaboration between Nigeria’s policy and research institutions, stressing the need for data-driven decision-making and “policy intelligence” that connects academic insight with government implementation. He highlighted the role of think tanks such as the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in generating actionable policy ideas. “We must invest in policy intelligence building a pipeline of ideas, innovation, and foresight through collaboration between government, academia, and civil society,” he said. “In a world of weaponized interdependence, we must be smarter, faster, and more strategic.”
Reaffirming his ministry’s commitment to a results-driven foreign policy, Ambassador Tuggar emphasized that diplomacy must always translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians from trade facilitation and investment attraction to climate finance and global advocacy. “Whether through advancing trade under AfCFTA, mobilizing investment flows, or amplifying Africa’s voice in global platforms, our diplomacy must deliver results that strengthen the livelihoods of Nigerians,” he added.
As the summit drew to a close, the Minister urged stakeholders to transform dialogue into measurable action. “Our challenge is to turn conversation into commitment and commitment into delivery,” Tuggar concluded. “If we align our ambition with implementation, Nigeria will not only reform but lead in West Africa, across Africa, and in the global community.”
The Minister’s remarks reflect a growing consensus that Nigeria’s future lies in combining strategic diplomacy, evidence-based policymaking, and regional integration to build a resilient economy capable of competing in an increasingly interconnected world. His message at the NES #31 signals a renewed determination by the Tinubu administration to ensure that Nigeria’s foreign engagements, economic policies, and institutional frameworks work hand in hand to deliver lasting national prosperity.
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