Ahead of the forthcoming general elections, leaders of political parties are scheduled to meet with members of the diplomatic community on January 10, 2023.
This was contained in a press release jointly signed by the President, Association of Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria, Ambassador Gani Lawal; and the Secretary-General, Ambassador Ridhwan Mustapha, on Monday.
The meeting, which will be hosted by the AFRPN, is aimed at “deepening the understanding of the input-output system that has informed the Nigerian foreign policy options in the international arena.”
According to the press release, leaders of four political parties have been invited to the parley which would take place at the headquarters of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Abuja.
The statement read in part, “Aware of the pivotal role party politics play in the formulation, articulation and implementation of Nigeria’s foreign policy, the AFRPN, in line with its mandate to impact positively the foreign policy of Nigeria, has invited formally the leadership of four of the contending political parties for the office of the President to rub minds with the diplomatic community as a way of deepening the understanding of the input-output system that has informed the Nigerian foreign policy options in the international arena.
“The AFRPN is the foremost Nigerian diplomatic forum consisting of major stakeholders on foreign relations issues. Its membership spans several institutions that deal with matters that transcend the frontiers of the nation’s borders such as serving and retired diplomatic staff and ambassadors of Nigeria, Nigerian officials in international organisations and institutions that deal with foreign relations matters.
“The ‘Meet the Diplomatic Community’ parley will take place in the Rotunda of the Foreign Ministry at Balewa House, Federal Secretariat at 3pm on January 10, 2023. Our audience shall in addition to our members include the foreign envoys of all countries accredited to Nigeria. Each candidate will have 15 minutes to speak and 10 minutes to field questions.”
