By Our Reporter
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Africa Development Studies Centre (ADSC) has called for a major overhaul of Nigeria’s foreign policy framework, urging the Federal Government to adopt a more aggressive trade- and investment-driven diplomatic strategy to boost economic growth and global competitiveness.
The recommendation is contained in a new policy research report presented by Victor Walsh Oluwafemi, President and Chief Executive Officer of ADSC and member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council.
The Centre said Nigeria must urgently transition from what it described as “passive diplomacy” to a model of strategic economic statecraft that prioritises bilateral and multilateral partnerships capable of delivering measurable economic outcomes.
According to the report, global influence is increasingly determined by trade alliances, supply chain integration, and cross-border investments, warning that Nigeria risks economic underperformance if it fails to reposition its international engagements as tools for national development.
ADSC observed that Nigeria’s diplomatic relations have largely remained symbolic, with little impact on industrial growth, infrastructure expansion, export development, and job creation.
The report noted that countries that achieved rapid economic transformation deliberately aligned their foreign policies with national economic priorities, ensuring that international engagements directly contributed to development goals.
It identified several countries Nigeria should prioritise under a renewed foreign policy direction. ADSC said relations with China should move beyond infrastructure financing towards industrial collaboration and manufacturing partnerships capable of driving export-led growth.
The Centre also highlighted opportunities with the United Kingdom in financial systems, governance innovation, and institutional strengthening, while describing the United Arab Emirates as a strategic gateway for global trade logistics and investment inflows.
According to the report, Germany offers strong prospects in industrial development and renewable energy collaboration, while stronger ties with South Africa are critical to advancing intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
The Centre further identified India as a key partner for opportunities in pharmaceuticals, digital infrastructure, and scalable manufacturing systems.
ADSC also urged Nigeria to deepen its participation in multilateral institutions such as the World Trade Organization and emerging blocs like BRICS to expand market access and strengthen economic influence.
A major recommendation of the report is the adoption of a results-based accountability framework for all international agreements. ADSC proposed the integration of Policy-as-a-Platform (PaaP) to enable digitally trackable policy execution, alongside Results-as-a-Service (RaaS), which ties diplomatic engagements to measurable indicators such as investment inflows, export volumes, and employment generation.
The Centre also called for the transformation of Nigerian embassies into active trade and investment hubs rather than traditional diplomatic outposts, while recommending the establishment of joint economic implementation councils with partner nations to ensure agreements are fully executed.
Speaking on the report, Oluwafemi said Nigeria must shift from merely signing international agreements to delivering concrete economic results.
“The difference between a nation that participates in global diplomacy and one that leads global economic transformation lies in execution. Nigeria must move from signing agreements to delivering measurable results that impact industries, jobs, and national prosperity,” he said.
He added that bilateral relationships should no longer be ceremonial but structured to drive investment, innovation, and sustainable development.
The ADSC maintained that Nigeria’s future economic growth and international relevance will depend largely on how effectively it leverages its bilateral and multilateral partnerships in an increasingly competitive global economy.
