Leading diplomats and international law experts have stressed the need for the urgent prioritisation of home-grown capacity development and training to fully accentuate Nigeria’s foreign policy interest and voice in international law-making and diplomacy.
They made the call last week at the opening ceremony kickstarting the one-week Certificate of Advanced Studies in International Law and Diplomacy course organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, in conjunction with the Nigerian Branch of the International Law Association, ILA.
The course intends to expose participants to the specialised knowledge and skill sets required for the practice of international law and diplomacy.
The opening ceremony featured remarks by senior diplomats and experts including Ambassador Usman Sarki, Former Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, New York; Professor Mohamed Tawfiq Ladan, the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Professor Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN, President of the International Law Association Nigeria, Ambassador Musa Nuhu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representatives to ECOWAS, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eghobamien-Mshelia Esther, Vice Chair and Nigeria’s representative, UN Committee on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Clement Osuya, Secretary General of the International Law Association, Nigeria, among other dignitaries.
Welcoming and congratulating participants for being selected for the course, Professor Ladan, Director General of NIALS hinted that, “This interdisciplinary course is designed to help participants think critically about diplomatic and international legal issues in real-life contexts while applying theory to practice and addressing some key questions facing the world today, and looking at contemporary practice and major events.”
For the Chairman of the occasion, Ambassador Sarki, “For Nigeria to be a leader and also an effective member of the international community, especially in such fora as ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations etc, her public diplomacy and methodologies of engagement must be grounded firmly on the astute grasp of international law and international institutional arrangements.
"Knowledge of the relevant aspects of international law and practical diplomacy will go a long way in shaping our approaches to global governance and challenges, as well as the fine-tuning of our process of engagement with other partners and stakeholders.”
Sarki commended NIALS and the ILA “for putting together this training package, which should prove highly significant in the formation of the next cadre of experts in international law and diplomacy who would serve their country professionally and in the best of traditions.”
The President of the ILA, Nigeria, Professor Olawuyi, SAN, who is also an independent expert on the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Switzerland, noted that for many years, international law has been largely shaped by Western narratives.
According to Olawuyi, “Reclaiming the African voice in international law and diplomacy requires home-grown capacity development programs that expose the next generation to the art and craft of international law and diplomacy.
"A course like this provides a chance to develop and maintain a steady track of international law scholars and diplomats from Nigeria, for Africa and the world.”
While commending the DG of NIALS for providing such an innovative and inspiring platform for advanced studies in international law and diplomacy, Professor Olawuyi advocated the need for all participants to “fully immerse themselves in the opportunities provided by the course.
He said: “The one-week course will cover contemporary themes in public and private international law, taught by leading experts, including modules on artificial intelligence and new technologies, international human rights and humanitarian law, international criminal law, international energy and petroleum transactions, climate change and sustainable development, conflict resolution, international commercial arbitration, AFCTA and international economic integration, as well as ethics and skill sets for international diplomacy, among others.”
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