THE ROLE OF DIPLOMACY IN NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

In the analysis of this research, the study examines the role of diplomacy in fostering Nigeria’s economic development between 2015 and 2024. During this period, Nigeria faced multiple economic challenges including declining oil revenues, rising debt burdens, and the need for diversification of the economy. In response, successive administrations increasingly turned to diplomatic channels as tools for promoting trade, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), negotiating international partnerships, and strengthening economic ties with global powers such as China and the United States. This research employed a mixed-method approach, relying on both primary data obtained through structured questionnaires with responses across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and secondary sources from relevant literature. The findings reveal that while diplomacy has contributed significantly to key areas such as infrastructure development, regional cooperation, and investment inflows, persistent challenges such as corruption, policy inconsistency, and insecurity have limited its overall impact. The study further explored the effectiveness of economic diplomacy through theoretical lenses such as Liberal Internationalism and Dependency Theory, emphasizing the need for strategic engagement and domestic reforms. The research concludes that for diplomacy to yield greater economic dividends, Nigeria must adopt a more coordinated, transparent, and interest driven foreign policy approach. The study recommendations include institutional capacity building, improved accountability in foreign engagements, alignment of diplomatic priorities with national economic objectives and need to deepen regional economic Integration and leverage ECOWAS/AfCFTA.