The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, emphasized the significance of grassroots development and mobilisation in projecting Nigeria's foreign policy and international image. He made these remarks in Abuja at the 2026 maiden National Conference of the 774 Local Government Chairmen and Chairmen of Traditional Rulers' Councils. The conference, themed "Cascading President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda to the Grassroots," was convened by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye stressed that every aspect of domestic government policy has implications for Nigeria's foreign policy and international relations. He explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is interested in developments across the country because the nation's foreign policy is a projection of its domestic policy. The Minister also highlighted that inclusive governance must be bottom-up, rather than top-down, and that traditional rulers remain a crucial component of Nigeria's governance architecture.
The Minister commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the conference and recognizing the roles of local governments and traditional rulers in the ongoing constitutional amendment process. He spoke within the framework of President Tinubu's four-D foreign policy doctrine: Demography, Development, Democracy, and Diaspora. Ambassador Enikanolaiye emphasized that the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda depends on its impact at the grassroots level.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye described Nigeria's youth population across the 774 local government areas as a significant global asset, stressing the need to empower local governments to convert the country's demographic strength into economic and national power. He also highlighted the importance of development, stating that a one-trillion-dollar economy requires productive and stable local governments, particularly through agriculture, mineral resources, and infrastructure development that can attract foreign direct investment.
On democracy, Ambassador Enikanolaiye emphasized that empowering local governments and traditional institutions will strengthen Nigeria's practice of bottom-up governance. He noted that improved security and economic opportunities at the grassroots level will encourage Nigerians in the diaspora to invest and project a positive image of the country. The Minister also stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will support the foreign policy component through investment matchmaking using Nigeria's 110 diplomatic missions abroad.
Other speakers at the conference, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Olumuyiwa Enitan Abel, and the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Dr. Onwusoro Maduka Ihemelandu, highlighted the importance of local governments and traditional rulers in effective service delivery and peacebuilding. They also emphasized the commitment of the civil service to accountability and measurable results.
The government has developed an E-Tracking Framework to address gaps in timely and verifiable data on interventions at the local government level. The framework aims to monitor project locations, value, timelines, and verification status. This initiative is expected to enhance the effectiveness of interventions and promote accountability at the grassroots level.
Key points
- Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye emphasizes the importance of grassroots development in shaping Nigeria's foreign policy.
- The Minister highlights the need to empower local governments to convert Nigeria's demographic strength into economic and national power.
- The government has developed an E-Tracking Framework to monitor interventions at the local government level and promote accountability.
