By Philip Yatai
Former United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, will ship keynote deal with on the inauguration of Annual Diplomacy Day on Nov. 20 on the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
Gambari, former Minister of External Affairs and Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative to the UN, would converse on “Narrative Power and the Diplomacy of Influence: Nigeria, Africa and the Contest for Global Influence.”
The occasion, convened by Media Diplomacy Studies (MDS), an unbiased analysis and coverage assume tank, has “Diplomacy in a Changing World: Building Trust, Partnerships and Influence for Nigeria and Africa” as its theme.
The Founder and Chief Executive of MDS, Dr Mkpe Abang, who disclosed this in a press release issued in Abuja on Friday, stated the distinguished diplomat and scholar would look at Nigeria, Africa and the worldwide contest for affect on the inaugural gathering.
Abang added that the deal with would interrogate the altering dynamics of worldwide diplomacy, the strategic significance of nationwide and continental narratives and Africa’s capability to form perceptions and affect outcomes in an more and more aggressive international order.
He stated “Gambari’s keynote address is expected to provide a critical perspective on the relationship between narrative power and diplomatic influence.
“This comes particularly at a time when Africa faces the simultaneous challenges of strengthening its international voice, consolidating regional cooperation and navigating competing geopolitical interests.”
He defined that the selection of Gambari, certainly one of Africa’s most achieved diplomatic students and practitioners as inaugural keynote speaker displays the mental ambition and worldwide orientation of the initiative.
He famous that Gambari’s profession encompasses important contributions to worldwide peace and safety, African affairs, battle decision and the event of multilateral diplomacy.
Abang defined that the inaugural gathering was designed as a sustained mental and policy-engagement platform to look at the altering dynamics of worldwide diplomacy, strategic communication and Africa’s function within the international order.
He stated “the inauguration comes at a consequential period in global affairs, characterised by intensifying geopolitical competition, shifting alliances, rapid technological transformation and an increasingly contested international information environment.
“In this emerging landscape, diplomatic influence is no longer determined exclusively by traditional instruments of statecraft, economic capacity or military strength.
“The ability of states and institutions to establish credibility, communicate compelling narratives, cultivate trust and shape international understanding has become an increasingly important dimension of national and regional power.”
He added that the platform was established to maneuver diplomatic discourse past ceremonial engagements in direction of sensible coverage relevance and mental interrogation.
“Diplomacy is no longer conducted exclusively across negotiating tables or within formal corridors of international institutions; it is increasingly contested in the arena of ideas, information, perception and public credibility.
“Nations are not judged solely by what they possess or accomplish, but also by how their identities, interests and aspirations are communicated, interpreted and understood,” Abang stated.
He careworn that the problem for Nigeria and Africa was not merely to take part in worldwide diplomacy, however to construct the capability to form conversations, affect narratives and contribute decisively to outcomes.
“For Nigeria and Africa, these developments raise fundamental questions about representation, strategic autonomy, international perception and the continent’s capacity to participate meaningfully in shaping the narratives through which its interests, challenges and aspirations are understood.
“The challenge is, therefore, not simply to participate in international diplomacy, but to strengthen our capacity to shape its conversations, influence its narratives and contribute more decisively to its outcomes,” he stated.
Abang added that the Diplomacy Day goals to institutionalise persevering with dialogue amongst diplomatic practitioners, policymakers, media professionals, students and enterprise leaders to strengthen nationwide and continental illustration.
He added that the occasion would additionally characteristic the National Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy, State Media Diplomacy and Global Influence, bringing collectively senior public officers, diplomats and communication professionals.
The chief govt stated {that a} main spotlight of the gathering could be the presentation of a e-book he authored, enitled “Weapons of Mass Manipulations: State Media, Global Influence and the New Diplomacy of Power.”
He defined that the e-book, derived from doctoral analysis in International Relations and Diplomacy, explores state media as a diplomatic instrument and the implications of knowledge energy on international affect.
He disclosed that the previous Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Joe Keshi, who serves as President of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria would chair the event.
He added that Amb. Abdullahi Shehu, former Nigerian Ambassador to the Russian Federation, would overview the e-book.
“MDS expressed optimism that the Annual Diplomacy Day will evolve into a recurring reference point for policy reflection and diplomatic engagement across the continent,” he stated. (NAN)
Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu
