SOCIAL MEDIA DIPLOMACY AND FOREIGN POLICY EFFECTIVENESS: AN ASSESSMENT OF NIGERIA’S DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE AFRICAN DIASPORA

Abstract

The emergence of digital communication technologies has fundamentally transformed the conduct of diplomacy, enabling states to interact directly with foreign publics and diaspora communities through social media and other online platforms. For Nigeria, whose diaspora population constitutes a significant source of economic, political, and cultural influence, social media diplomacy offers a strategic avenue for advancing foreign policy objectives and strengthening transnational engagement. This article examines the extent to which Nigeria utilizes social media platforms to engage the African diaspora and assesses the implications of such engagement for foreign policy effectiveness. Drawing on soft power theory and network society theory, the study employs a qualitative approach based on documentary analysis of policy documents, diplomatic communications, and contemporary literature on digital diplomacy. The findings suggest that social media platforms have enhanced communication between Nigerian foreign policy institutions and diaspora communities by facilitating information dissemination, public diplomacy, and crisis communication. However, challenges such as institutional fragmentation, inconsistent digital strategies, misinformation, cybersecurity concerns, and inadequate technological capacity continue to constrain the effectiveness of Nigeria’s digital diplomacy efforts. The study concludes that a comprehensive digital diaspora engagement framework is necessary to maximize the potential of social media diplomacy in advancing Nigeria’s international image and foreign policy interests. The study therefore recommends the development of a coordinated national digital diplomacy strategy, strengthened institutional capacity, and enhanced investment in digital infrastructure to improve engagement with diaspora communities and support the achievement of Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives in the digital era.