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Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

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Conceptual Def<strong>in</strong>itions<br />

<strong>Challenges</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Era</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Globalization</strong><br />

Edited by Emmanuel Obuah<br />

Foreign Service<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> Encarta English Dictionary (2009) Foreign Service refers to <strong>the</strong> diplomatic or<br />

consular staff <strong>of</strong> a country. Michalak (2009) expla<strong>in</strong>s that <strong>the</strong> Foreign Service is responsible for<br />

ga<strong>the</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>formation conducive to <strong>the</strong> formulation <strong>of</strong> foreign policy, for implement<strong>in</strong>g foreign<br />

policy abroad, and for safeguard<strong>in</strong>g national citizens and <strong>the</strong>ir personnel and commercial <strong>in</strong>terests<br />

<strong>in</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r lands. Foreign Service ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s embassies, missions, consulates all over <strong>the</strong> world. In<br />

Nigeria <strong>the</strong> Foreign Service is <strong>the</strong> segment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> federal m<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> foreign affairs. The Foreign<br />

Service comb<strong>in</strong>es diplomatic personnel primarily concerned with governmental relations or<br />

consular personnel concerned with <strong>in</strong>dividual and commercial matters.<br />

Diplomatic Mach<strong>in</strong>ery<br />

The diplomatic mach<strong>in</strong>ery is <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitutions that carry out <strong>the</strong> diplomatic service <strong>of</strong> nations. The<br />

conduct <strong>of</strong> relations with o<strong>the</strong>r countries as stated by Michalak (2009) has three requirements such<br />

as, establishment <strong>of</strong> an <strong>in</strong>stitution <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> home country to formulate policy and <strong>in</strong>struct personnel<br />

sent, establishment <strong>of</strong> an <strong>in</strong>stitution abroad from which contacts are made <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> foreign country<br />

and <strong>the</strong> personnel to make <strong>the</strong> system work. The Nigerian Diplomatic Mach<strong>in</strong>ery <strong>in</strong>cludes <strong>the</strong><br />

M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> Foreign Affairs MFA, Foreign Missions, Foreign Service, and <strong>the</strong> Nigerian Institute <strong>of</strong><br />

International Affairs NIIA.<br />

M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> Foreign Affairs (MFA)<br />

In Nigeria <strong>the</strong> government m<strong>in</strong>istry that handles foreign relations matters is <strong>the</strong> M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> Foreign<br />

Affairs. It is charged with primary responsibility <strong>of</strong> formulat<strong>in</strong>g, articulat<strong>in</strong>g and conduct <strong>of</strong><br />

Nigeria’s Foreign Policy. The charter commits <strong>the</strong> M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> Foreign Affairs to utilize its unique<br />

character and leverage to articulate and promote with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> global, sub-regional and domestic<br />

milieu, values which promote Nigeria’s security, stability and prosperity. In particular, it enunciates<br />

<strong>the</strong> centrality <strong>of</strong> effective Service Delivery <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> atta<strong>in</strong>ment <strong>of</strong> Foreign policy goals and objectives<br />

<strong>in</strong> a global milieu <strong>in</strong> which globalization presents nations with challenges hi<strong>the</strong>rto unimag<strong>in</strong>ed. The<br />

head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> M<strong>in</strong>istry is politically appo<strong>in</strong>ted by <strong>the</strong> nation’s President. From 1960 to 1961, Sir<br />

Abubàkar Tafawa Balewa, Nigerian Prime M<strong>in</strong>ister was also <strong>in</strong> charge <strong>of</strong> Foreign Affairs. From<br />

1961 to 1965 he handed over to Jaja Nwachukwu. The m<strong>in</strong>ister is a cab<strong>in</strong>et member who helps to<br />

form <strong>the</strong> foreign policy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> state. He was responsible for many diplomatic duties like host<strong>in</strong>g<br />

foreign world leaders and go<strong>in</strong>g on state visits to o<strong>the</strong>r countries. From a small group <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> first<br />

Prime M<strong>in</strong>ister’s <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>in</strong> 1957, <strong>the</strong> Nigerian diplomatic service grew <strong>in</strong>to an organization with a<br />

staff <strong>of</strong> over 4000 and 92 overseas embassies by 1981, reduced to 86 by <strong>the</strong> Buhari adm<strong>in</strong>istration.<br />

M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> Foreign Affairs has rema<strong>in</strong>ed probably <strong>the</strong> biggest s<strong>in</strong>gle bureaucracy.<br />

Foreign Missions<br />

Foreign mission refers to <strong>the</strong> embassy abroad (Encarta 2009). In Nigeria, <strong>the</strong> head is an<br />

Ambassador assisted by a career diplomat. A mission is organized <strong>in</strong>to functional sections that deal<br />

with respective areas as political affairs, consular and commercial affairs <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g attaches.<br />

Missions are largely staffed by Foreign Service Officers from Nigeria but citizens <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> host<br />

country may be hired as translators or for no sensitive jobs. Diplomatic missions negotiate issues <strong>of</strong><br />

great political significance, meet with foreign students, issue visas, and perform consular operations<br />

concerned with <strong>the</strong> economic and commercial relations between nations. Consular work <strong>in</strong>volves<br />

<strong>the</strong> issue <strong>of</strong> birth, death and marriage certificates to citizens resid<strong>in</strong>g or travel<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> foreign<br />

country. Consular <strong>of</strong>ficers regulate shipp<strong>in</strong>g and commodities exported to <strong>the</strong>ir home nations.<br />

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