New Nigerian Newspapers Online Edition

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs Chief Ojo Maduekwe has set up a mechanism for the full implementation of the country's foreign policy, also dubbed "citizen diplomacy". Already a think-tank has been constituted that would periodically review the policy structure and advise government, it was gathered.

Maduekwe said that citizen's diplomacy was nothing more than putting the citizen first and making Nigeria the focus of our interventions at the international level. "So there is the need to move our foreign policy to a more mature, more focused and strategic level of engagement,'' he stressed.

He explained further that the mechanism which would bring about professionalism and excellence was an affirmation of what the ministry was doing. "We want Nigerians to know that ideologically, the state now cares about its citizen wherever he or she resides,'' Maduekwe said.

Also, three new under secretaries had been appointed to also reposition the ministry in line with what obtained in the global diplomatic circles. The under secretaries include Ambassadors Chike Anigbo (Africa); Eni Onobu (Regional and International) and Biodun Owoseni (Administration, Finance and Accounts).

NAN reports that these positions are relatively new in the 50 years of the ministry's existence. The idea was first mooted in 2001 following the recommendations of the Anyaoku Presidential Review Panel of the Foreign Service.