Also on the team are Senator Mohammed Hassan, Senator Bashir Lado, Hon. Aliyu Farouk, Dr. Joseph Onoh, among others
Photo: FFK’s Media Office
The Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), has advised the recently appointed Nigerian ambassadors to prioritise defending the country’s interests and those of its citizens abroad as a cardinal responsibility of diplomacy to be pursued in their countries of accreditation.
The NPSA in a statement signed by its president, Prof. Hassan Saliu, urged the ambassadors to serve as cheerleaders in giving legitimacy to controversial charges levelled against Nigerians.
It expressed optimism that the new ambassadors would bring positive changes to Nigeria’s diplomatic landscape with their appointments.
The association noted: “In the last couple of years, travelling Nigerians have had sour tales to narrate about their experiences with Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, showing neglect or outright abandonment of citizens.
“This somewhat uncaring attitude is expected to be consigned to the dustbin of history by Nigerians under the new ambassadors.”
“The effectiveness of the missions will then be measured by Nigerians’ level of satisfaction with their travel experiences. The ambassadors must bear this in mind and be prepared to change the narrative under their watch.
“Above all, diplomacy is a delicate and sensitive vocation that can be pursued with diligence and unspoken words when necessary. It has its own communication style, different from the traditional one that most political ambassadors are accustomed to. The work of any ambassador is to smooth relations between their country and those of other nations. This objective cannot be achieved if one is perpetually combative” it added.
It, therefore, recommended a continuous training programme for the ambassadors, in addition to the traditional commencement retreat.
While noting that the image of the country abroad ws no longer what it was in the 1970s, the association said, “the hope of reversing the trend rests on the new ambassadors, who need creative energy and a new vision to deliver on their mandate.”
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