Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has charged newly graduated Foreign Service officers to project Nigeria’s positive image globally and actively counter false claims of religious persecution against the country.
Tuggar gave the charge on Tuesday during the closing ceremony of the 26th Regular Course of the Foreign Service Academy in Abuja.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s diplomats must act as ambassadors of truth and development, saying, “Our missions must serve as economic outposts, actively promoting investment, trade, and technological cooperation in every host country. You must also debunk false narratives at every opportunity, such as the ongoing campaign alleging religious persecution in Nigeria.”
The minister reminded the officers that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination. “Sections 10, 38 and 42 of our Constitution make it impossible to have a state religion, guarantee freedom of religion, and prohibit religious and ethnic discrimination,” he explained.
Tuggar further noted that state governments do not operate blasphemy laws but rather enforce breach of peace or incitement offences to prevent communal conflict in a diverse nation of over 230 million people.
Speaking on President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy direction, Tuggar said Nigeria’s diplomacy is anchored on “strategic autonomy” guided by four pillars — Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora. He stressed that these principles define Nigeria’s “renewed voice and influence on the world stage.”
The minister announced that the Foreign Service Academy’s curriculum is being reviewed to reflect emerging global trends, including technology, data, and artificial intelligence. “Diplomacy itself is being redefined. The world has become more interconnected and international relations more complex,” he said.
He revealed that the ministry recently created an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Desk and hosted a seminar on “AI in Modern Diplomacy” to prepare diplomats for the future of global engagement.
Tuggar also disclosed that the Ministry has begun reviewing its Station Charters to set new performance benchmarks aligned with modern diplomatic demands. “Our goal is to derive greater value from Nigeria’s presence in over 109 countries — not just through political engagement but also through trade facilitation, human capital development, and business process outsourcing,” he said.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to relocating the Foreign Service Academy to its permanent site in Badagry, Lagos, Tuggar said discussions were ongoing with partners to secure funding for the project.
He further appealed to the National Assembly to expedite passage of the Foreign Service Commission Bill to strengthen the Academy’s autonomy and expand its capacity to train diplomats from Nigeria and other African nations.
Tuggar urged the new officers to uphold integrity, patriotism, and excellence in their careers, saying: “Your diplomatic life will know no limits if you look beyond postings and protocol assignments and aim to be innovative, resilient, and purpose-driven.”
