By EricJames Ochigbo
The Africa Development Studies Centre (ADSC) has urged Nigeria to institutionalise a results-driven framework for accountability in international agreements.
In a statement on Saturday, Dr Victor Oluwafemi, the president of the centre, said the recommendation followed extensive policy research by the centre.
He said Nigeria needed a fundamental shift in its foreign policy architecture towards deliberate, trade-driven and investment-focused global engagement.
He said the research highlighted the urgency of moving from passive diplomacy to strategic economic statecraft.
According to him, such statecraft should be anchored on bilateral and multilateral partnerships that deliver measurable national benefits.
He warned that global influence is increasingly shaped by trade alliances, supply chain integration and cross-border investments.
He said Nigeria risked economic underperformance if it failed to reposition for sustainable growth and development.
Oluwafemi said Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements remained largely symbolic, with limited measurable gains in critical sectors.
He listed industrial expansion, infrastructure growth, employment generation and export development as key indicators of diplomatic success.
“Countries that achieve rapid economic transformation align foreign policy directly with national economic priorities.
“Every international engagement must contribute meaningfully to clearly defined national development objectives,” he said.
He said Nigeria must institutionalise a results-driven framework that ensures accountability across all international agreements
He said ADSC proposed the adoption of Policy-as-a-Platform, known as PaaP.
He explained that the model would enable digitally trackable and adaptive policy implementation.
He also recommended Results-as-a-Service, known as RaaS, to connect diplomacy with economic performance indicators.
According to him, those indicators include investment inflows, export volumes and employment creation.
“The nation’s embassies should function as trade and investment hubs, not merely diplomatic outposts,” he said.
He also proposed joint economic implementation councils with partner nations.
According to him, such councils would ensure agreements move beyond ceremonial signings into practical execution.
Oluwafemi said execution remained the defining difference between participating in diplomacy and driving economic transformation.
He said Nigeria must move from signing agreements to delivering measurable outcomes for industries, jobs and national prosperity.
He added that bilateral relationships should become structured pipelines for investment, innovation and sustainable development.
“Nigeria’s development depends largely on how effectively it leverages its global relationships.
“As global competition intensifies, Nigeria must act with urgency, clarity and strategic purpose,” Oluwafemi said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)