Ambassador Bolaji Akinremi, a retired Director in Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has said the common perception of diplomats as wealthy individuals is misleading, stressing that their entitlements are inadequate and fail to reflect the risks and sacrifices of the profession.
Speaking with journalists during his 60th birthday celebration and retirement event, which also featured the launch of his book, The Seven-Star Diplomat, Akinremi lamented the poor remuneration of Nigerian diplomats despite the hazards and responsibilities they face abroad.
“Diplomats sometimes move from grace to grass. We receive allowances for domestic staff abroad that we are equally entitled to at home but never get. We work under difficult and uncertain conditions,” he said.
He highlighted the critical role of diplomacy in national security, noting that no conflict is truly resolved on the battlefield alone but through negotiations at the diplomatic table. “A diplomat represents Nigeria in sensitive environments and is often viewed with suspicion. Even though we are not intelligence officers, we carry the nation’s image, which exposes us to serious risks,” he added.
Akinremi encouraged newly appointed ambassadors and nominees not to focus solely on prestigious postings, noting that effective diplomacy requires dedication, persistence, and hard work rather than the status of the assignment.
Reflecting on his career, he said he served over 33 years in the Foreign Ministry and nearly 35 years in the civil service, having joined in 1991. He recounted being wrongfully dismissed for seven years before being reinstated, eventually attaining a director-level position and later serving as ambassador.
“These experiences taught me the power of self-motivation. Obstacles should never be seen as stumbling blocks but as stepping stones,” he said, describing his book as an effort to inspire young Nigerians to pursue diplomacy and advocate for greater investment in early career training for diplomats.
Akinremi emphasised that modern diplomacy requires strategic thinking, national planning, and advocacy for the voiceless, rather than ceremonial functions.
Chief Kola Kareem, Chairman of the occasion, described Akinremi as a rare diplomat whose contributions to Nigeria’s global image were commendable, while former ambassador Dr. Godknows Igali lauded him as “highly versatile and worthy of emulation across the public service.”
The event drew retired ambassadors, civil servants, and international relations professionals, reflecting the high esteem in which Akinremi is held within diplomatic circles.
