About Us
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plays a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria's interactions with the global community. As the primary governmental body responsible for managing Nigeria's external relations, the ministry oversees diplomatic missions, negotiates treaties and agreements, and promotes Nigeria's interests and values on the international stage. With a rich history spanning decades, the ministry is entrusted with safeguarding Nigeria's sovereignty, fostering economic cooperation, advancing peace and security, and representing the nation's diverse culture and heritage worldwide. Through its strategic diplomacy and engagement with foreign partners, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs serves as a key architect of Nigeria's foreign policy, contributing to the country's development, prosperity, and influence on the global stage.
Our Mission
Our aim is to reinforce Nigeria’s position as a leader in Africa, enhance its influence globally, maximise opportunities through strategic autonomy, drive major multilateral reforms, and foster improved national security, trade, and investment
Our Vision
To build a strong and effective Foreign Ministry that is knowledge-based and technology driven in service delivery, at headquarters and missions abroad, in the pursuit of Nigeria’s interests and foreign policy goals and objectives and guarrantee the dignity of Nigerian citizens, Africans as well as other foreigners in Nigeria.
Our Core values
Our Core Values deal with issues of National Security, Survival, Territorial Integrity and Sovereignty as well as strengthening the International Mechnism for effective service delivery and enhancing revenue measures, distributions, Customer service, including increasing a greater economic content in the curriculum of the Nations Foreign Services and Investment.
Leadership Team
World class diplomats and administrators are at our helm of affairs.
H. E. Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, OON.
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Our foreign policy
We are committed to building an efficient Foreign Ministry that is knowledge-based and techology-drive in service delivery in the pursuit of Nigeria;s interests and foreign policy goals aand objectives.
ABOUT US
Our History
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has undergone various phases of structural change since it began as a small unit in the office of the Prime Minister in September 1957. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then called the Department of External Affairs, came to being in the year 1960 shortly after Nigeria attained independence. The first Minister was Dr. J.A. Wachukwu. It had, at inception, personnel strength of twelve (12) officers, responsible for the conduct of Nigeria’s Commonwealth and Foreign Relations. These officers became the first generation of Foreign Service Officers in the country.
The twelve officers are:
Olumide O. Omololu
D. C. Igwe
John Garba
Soji Williams
Prince Adedokun Haastrup
Chuks O. Ifeagwu
John N. Ukaegbu
C. C. Chukwura
Leslie Harriman
E. Omotayo Ogunsulire
M. A. Sanusi
Philip C. Asiodu
At independence in 1960, the division was renamed the Ministry of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. On attainment of a Republican status in 1963, it was designated, Ministry of External Affairs and in 1989, the Ministry was re-designated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Tafawa Balewa House, Central Business District, Abuja
(+234) 9 52365 223
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