The Challenges of Citizen Diplomacy in Nigeria Project, 2007-2010

Abstract

Promoting the general welfare of the people and securing citizens' liberty is an incontrovertible project of any state's policymaking. Therefore, Nigeria's citizen diplomacy is one of the diplomatic drives of achieving this project. However, avid reader and scholar of the Nigerian polity will notice some national and international contradictions that have hampered the promotion of Nigerians' welfare and security, and thus challenging the positive image perception of the country. Therefore, the task of the paper is to underscore the challenges clogging the wheel of citizen diplomacy towards achieving Nigeria project, and to enunciate the way forward for Nigeria's regeneration. Utilizing both primary (direct observations, interviews and focus groups) and secondary (literature and document reviews) methods of data collection, which are qualitatively and systematically analyzed through inductive approach, the study reveals an obvious wide gulf between the Nigerian State and its citizens. The paper posits that

Citizen Diplomacy in Nigeria-South Africa Relation: Confronting the Paradox of Xenophobia

“…It also serves as a medium to project and protect its interest beyond its territory, thereby gaining international recognition and respect. the recognition a state enjoys in the international system rests on its developmental trajectory, economic and military capacity, the positive image of the country and its adherence to the treaties and international convention which it is a signatory to (Aleyomi & Abubakar, 2017). With Nigeria's adoption of citizen diplomacy, it was assumed that its new international behavior will primarily aim to protect its citizens' interests and wellbeing across the world (Folarin, 2013).…”

Political leadership and Nigeria’s image crisis

“…However, critical assessments on a number of mutually reinforcing attributes of state capacity show diminishing incentives towards positive image building. Nigeria's image climate is partially dependent on the security stability of the country and its people (Aleyomi & Abu Bakar, 2017). However, Nigerian state has not been able to measure up to expectation in providing adequate security for its people (Sampson, 2016).…”