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Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

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Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 12th Annual Conference © 2011 IAABD<br />

large and abundantly blessed nation derives <strong>the</strong> full benefits <strong>of</strong> globalization and diversification <strong>of</strong><br />

her economic base (Andrew Young 2003:1)<br />

Andrew Young and o<strong>the</strong>rs recognized <strong>the</strong> place <strong>of</strong> oil <strong>in</strong> Nigeria’s foreign relations. There was<br />

<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g recognition <strong>of</strong> Nigeria <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational organizations and many important world leaders<br />

actually visited <strong>the</strong> country to seek closer co-operation between Nigeria and <strong>the</strong>ir respective<br />

countries. Presidents Bill Cl<strong>in</strong>ton visited Nigeria <strong>in</strong> August 2000 and George Walker Bush (Jnr.) <strong>in</strong><br />

July 2003. President Obasanjo became <strong>the</strong> leader <strong>of</strong> G77 <strong>in</strong> 2001 and Nigeria began to play<br />

important roles <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Commonwealth. Nigerian leader with <strong>the</strong> leaders <strong>of</strong> Australia and South<br />

Africa equally became <strong>the</strong> lead<strong>in</strong>g heads <strong>in</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g solution to <strong>the</strong> face-<strong>of</strong>f between Brita<strong>in</strong> and<br />

Zimbabwe over <strong>the</strong> land seizure from white farmers. Nigeria was at <strong>the</strong> forefront <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

establishment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Africa’s new economic<br />

<strong>in</strong>itiative which was endorsed by African Heads <strong>of</strong> State at <strong>the</strong> OAU Summit <strong>in</strong> Lusaka, Zambia <strong>in</strong><br />

July 2001.<br />

Nigeria led <strong>the</strong> negotiation lead<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> stepp<strong>in</strong>g down <strong>of</strong> Liberian President Charles Taylor <strong>in</strong><br />

August 2003 and Taylor’s exit made Liberia to chart a new course from its ru<strong>in</strong>ous conflicts. Also<br />

Commonwealth Heads <strong>of</strong> Government Meet<strong>in</strong>gs (CHOGM) was successfully hosted by Nigeria <strong>in</strong><br />

December 2003. Nigeria has rema<strong>in</strong>ed a key player <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational oil <strong>in</strong>dustry s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong><br />

1970s, and ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s membership <strong>in</strong> Organization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Petroleum Export<strong>in</strong>g Countries OPEC<br />

which Nigeria jo<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> July, 1971. Nigeria is also a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> International Crim<strong>in</strong>al Court,<br />

and <strong>the</strong> Commonwealth <strong>of</strong> Nations. The country’s external relations have been active dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

periods <strong>of</strong> economic stability.<br />

Theoretical Framework<br />

The adopted <strong>the</strong>oretical frame work is <strong>the</strong> functional approach. The <strong>the</strong>ory posits that <strong>the</strong> society is<br />

a system <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>terrelated parts which toge<strong>the</strong>r forms a whole. The functionalists argue that an<br />

understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> any part <strong>of</strong> a system enhances <strong>the</strong> thorough understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> relationship with<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r parts. The basic unit <strong>of</strong> analysis is <strong>the</strong> society and its various parts can be understood ma<strong>in</strong>ly<br />

<strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir functions with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> whole. The functionalists assume that society has basic needs<br />

which, must be actualized <strong>in</strong> order to survive. Haralambos (2004) expla<strong>in</strong>s that <strong>the</strong>se basic needs<br />

<strong>in</strong>clude adaptation, goal atta<strong>in</strong>ment, <strong>in</strong>tegration and pattern ma<strong>in</strong>tenance. Functions expla<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

contributions which a part or an <strong>in</strong>stitution makes to <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>tenance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> social system. In <strong>the</strong><br />

light <strong>of</strong> this research, <strong>the</strong> functionalist <strong>the</strong>ory expla<strong>in</strong>s <strong>the</strong> contribution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nigerian Foreign<br />

Service <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> conduct <strong>of</strong> Nigerian diplomatic relations. Nigeria is a component <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />

system and <strong>the</strong> capability <strong>of</strong> Nigeria to perform <strong>in</strong> world politics depends on <strong>the</strong> ability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Nigerian Foreign Service. How and when national objectives abroad are realized, when Nigeria<br />

becomes an activist <strong>in</strong> world affairs and how Nigeria play leadership role <strong>in</strong> Africa will properly be<br />

made bare through <strong>the</strong> functions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nigerian Foreign Service.<br />

<strong>Challenges</strong> Fac<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Nigerian Foreign Service:<br />

Challenge <strong>of</strong> Political Leadership<br />

Nigeria lacks a leadership that is visionary with a will, dynamic, purposeful, and one committed to<br />

<strong>the</strong> over all development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people and <strong>the</strong> country. The nation’s political leadership dom<strong>in</strong>ates<br />

and regulates <strong>the</strong> direction <strong>of</strong> foreign policy <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> fulfillment <strong>of</strong> its <strong>of</strong>ficial mandate,<br />

motivational leadership, and fund<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> research activities. The Nigerian Foreign M<strong>in</strong>ister has not<br />

been regarded and does not sit on <strong>the</strong> highest policy councils <strong>of</strong> state; <strong>the</strong> NIIA <strong>in</strong>dependent<br />

character was and is still not clear as <strong>the</strong> NIJA has been a government supervised and government-<br />

funded <strong>in</strong>stitution s<strong>in</strong>ce 18th August 1974 and <strong>the</strong> end result has been <strong>the</strong> h<strong>in</strong>drance to effective<br />

diplomatic service delivery. As Ak<strong>in</strong>dele (2002) put it, <strong>the</strong> M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> Foreign Affairs has quite<br />

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