…Centre proposes the integration of Policy-as-a-Platform (PaaP)

The Africa Development Studies Centre (ADSC) has released a new policy research outcome calling for a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture towards a more deliberate, trade-driven, and investment-focused engagement with the global community.

Presented by Sir Victor Walsh Oluwafemi, KJW, President/Chief Executive of ADSC and member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, the report underscores the urgent need for Nigeria to transition from passive diplomacy to strategic economic statecraft anchored on bilateral and multilateral partnerships.

At a time when global influence is increasingly defined by trade alliances, supply chain integration, and cross-border investments, ADSC warns that Nigeria risks underperformance if it fails to reposition its international relationships as engines of economic growth and sustainable development.

According to the report, Nigeria’s current diplomatic engagements remain largely symbolic, with limited conversion into measurable outcomes such as industrial expansion, infrastructure development, job creation, and export growth. This gap, the Centre notes, represents a missed opportunity for a country with Nigeria’s economic scale and continental influence.

The research highlights that strengthening bilateral relationships, particularly those rooted in trade and investment, is no longer optional but essential. Countries that have achieved accelerated economic transformation have done so by aligning their foreign policy directly with economic priorities, ensuring that every international engagement contributes to national development goals.

ADSC identifies key strategic partners that Nigeria must prioritise in this renewed approach. Engagement with China should evolve beyond infrastructure financing into deeper industrial collaboration and manufacturing partnerships that support export-led growth. Relations with the United Kingdom offer opportunities in financial systems, governance innovation, and institutional strengthening.

The United Arab Emirates presents a gateway for global trade logistics and investment inflows, while Germany provides a model for industrial excellence and renewable energy collaboration.

Within Africa, strategic alignment with South Africa is critical for strengthening intra-continental trade, particularly under the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Similarly, partnerships with India can unlock opportunities in pharmaceuticals, digital infrastructure, and scalable manufacturing systems.

The report further emphasises that bilateral engagements must be complemented by stronger participation in multilateral platforms such as the World Trade Organization and emerging economic blocs like BRICS, where Nigeria can leverage scale, influence, and access to wider markets.

A central recommendation of the ADSC research is the institutionalisation of a results-driven framework that ensures accountability and measurable outcomes from all international agreements.

The Centre proposes the integration of Policy-as-a-Platform (PaaP), which enables digitally trackable and adaptive policy execution, alongside Results-as-a-Service (RaaS), a model that ties diplomatic engagements directly to economic performance indicators such as investment inflows, export volumes, and job creation.

In practical terms, ADSC calls for the repositioning of Nigerian embassies as active trade and investment hubs, rather than purely diplomatic outposts. It also recommends the establishment of joint economic implementation councils with partner countries to ensure that agreements move beyond signing ceremonies into tangible execution.

Quoting from the report, Sir Victor Walsh Oluwafemi stated:
“The difference between a nation that participates in global diplomacy and one that leads global economic transformation lies in execution. Nigeria must move from signing agreements to delivering measurable results that impact industries, jobs, and national prosperity.”

He further noted:
“Bilateral relationships must no longer be ceremonial. They must become structured pipelines for investment, innovation, and sustainable development. This is how nations build relevance, respect, and resilience in a competitive global economy.”

The ADSC concludes that Nigeria’s path to sustainable development will be significantly shaped by how effectively it leverages its global relationships. In an increasingly interconnected world, the strength of a nation’s bilateral and multilateral engagements is directly linked to its economic performance and international standing.

As global competition intensifies, the Centre asserts that Nigeria must act with urgency, clarity, and strategic intent to reposition itself not only as Africa’s largest economy but as one of its most influential and respected economic powers.