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Nigeria has intensified efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and digital technologies into its foreign policy, as the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs opened the Second Seminar on Anticipatory, Cyber and Digital Diplomacy (ACDD 2.0) in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening of the two-day seminar on Tuesday, the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, said the country must move beyond discussions on digital diplomacy to practical implementation in order to remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven global environment.
The seminar, themed "From Awareness to Activation: Operationalising AI, Cyber and Digital Statecraft for Nigeria's Foreign Policy," brings together diplomats, government officials, development partners, technology experts, academics and international affairs practitioners to chart a new direction for Nigeria's diplomatic engagement in the digital age.
Enikanolaiye said the international system was undergoing profound transformation, with advances in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital technology redefining how countries communicate, negotiate, protect their interests and conduct diplomacy.
According to him, traditional diplomatic tools are no longer sufficient, as technology now plays a central role in global governance, economic relations, security and international cooperation.
He noted that the seminar builds on the success of its maiden edition held in 2025, which led to the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Diplomacy Unit within the Ministry's International Organizations Department.
The Minister explained that once fully operational, the unit would coordinate Nigeria's engagement on emerging technologies, strengthen the country's participation in global digital governance processes and ensure that Nigeria's diplomatic engagements adequately reflect the strategic implications of technological advancement.
He stressed that anticipatory diplomacy requires governments to shift from reactive responses to proactive engagement through stronger institutional readiness, improved digital capacity and closer collaboration among government agencies, academia, technology experts and international partners.
Enikanolaiye said the seminar provides an important platform to examine Nigeria's preparedness in deploying AI, cyber capabilities and digital tools across its diplomatic missions both at home and abroad.
He challenged participants to assess whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria's foreign missions possess the capacity required to compete effectively in an era increasingly shaped by digital innovation.
"Our task is to provide answers to this question with a view to enhancing our capacity and capability in this sphere that is so critical to the work we do, if Nigeria is to remain competitive regionally and in the global arena," he said.
The Minister said embracing AI and digital statecraft would enhance Nigeria's diplomatic reach, strengthen strategic communication and better advance the country's national interests on the global stage.
He urged participants to actively contribute ideas, share experiences and develop practical recommendations capable of strengthening Nigeria's diplomatic institutions and foreign policy instruments.
Enikanolaiye expressed confidence that the outcome of the seminar would reinforce Nigeria's regional, continental and global leadership by equipping its diplomatic service with modern technological capabilities.
He also described the seminar as evidence of the Ministry's proactive response to emerging global trends under the leadership of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
The Minister commended the British High Commission in Abuja for supporting the initiative, describing the partnership as critical to promoting innovation, capacity building and international cooperation in diplomacy.
He reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to strengthening Nigeria's Foreign Service through specialised training, improved institutional frameworks and the development of digitally competent diplomats capable of contributing effectively to global conversations on technology and diplomacy.
Declaring the seminar open, Enikanolaiye called on participants to focus on practical outcomes that would position Nigeria at the forefront of diplomatic innovation in Africa and beyond.
"I am confident that the insights and recommendations arising from this seminar will contribute significantly to strengthening Nigeria's foreign policy outlook and positioning our country at the forefront of diplomatic innovation in Africa and beyond," he said.