A don, Prof. Babafemi Badejo, says Nigeria needs a holistic foreign policy review to suit present day realities, such that productive capacities are built to thrive locally and internationally.
Mr Badejo, a professor of Political Science and International Relations at Chrisland University, gave the advice on Thursday, at a guest lecture with the theme, “Utmost Freedom: The Real Essence of National Interest.”
The lecture was organised by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, in Lagos.
Mr Badejo, former Head of Political Affairs, UN-AU Mission in Darfur, UNAMID, said there was a need to re-examine Nigeria’s approach to friendship in the international community.
“It is critical to recognise that the true essence of national interest lies in the promotion and safeguarding of utmost freedom for citizens.
“There should be responsible governance that deftly avoids counter measures from stronger powers and equally maximises opportunities at the external environment.
“Leadership that eschews corruption, and really, fights against corruption will help a nation in its pursuit of utmost freedom,” he said.
According to Mr Badejo, international civil servants assisting in aid delivery must also be trained to stop avoiding pointing out adverse facts about leadership deficit and corruption.
He also said that the Nigerian government, in its agenda setting for foreign policy, international relations and the management of national interest, must first commit to developing its domestic realities.
Badejo noted that this could be done especially by first pursuing sound economic policies capable of meaningful impact on the lives of the people.
The professor said that the domestic dimension to realising utmost freedom was very critical and had suffered neglect over the years.
According to him, national interest refers to the set of objectives and goals that a nation puts forth and hopefully implements for the realisation of improved well-being of its nationals.
He noted that they were enduring standpoints based on lasting values that were fundamental to the right to life for the individual.
“National interest involves the core objectives and priorities that nations seek to achieve and protect in their relations with other nations and in the pursuit of their own well-being or interest.
“It is clear that Nigeria’s national interest from the beginnings appreciated the importance of the role of Nigeria in the international scheme of affairs, especially in upholding the wellbeing of continental Africa.”
Mr Badejo, however said that the domestic realities continued to prove that Nigeria was far from being near ready to take up the demands of this expectation.
The don questioned the use of the protection of the critical and fundamental interests of individuals as indices for the assessment of progress in upholding national interests.
According to him, a response to the question leads towards the concretisation of national interest in the direction of visible interests of people.
This, he said, is a superior focus in the handling of national interests and leads towards an examination of the purpose of the human being.
Commending NIIA’s work, Mr Badejo urged the institute to intensify efforts on bringing to bear, the full impact of external dynamics, and the unbalanced effect of this on the lives of Nigerians .
He said that the institute was not to undertake all tasks necessary for the realisation of utmost freedom but could act as a catalyst in a situation of “national morass.”
Mr Badejo said the NIIA should take the lead to re-engage with many moribund institutions that should have been boosting national capacities towards the realisation of utmost freedom.
NAN
