The Academy of International Affairs, a private think tank on international relations, foreign policy, and diplomacy, will be inaugurated on Monday in Abuja.

The event’s planning committee announced this in a statement on Friday.

Former military head of state Yakubu Gowon, ex-foreign affairs minister Bolaji Akinyemi, top diplomats, leading scholars, former heads of security and military agencies are scheduled to attend the event.

The academy was founded two years ago by Mr Akinyemi to brainstorm intermittently on issues bordering Nigeria’s foreign policy.

The committee said Mr Gowon would chair the inauguration, and Afreximbank president Benedict Oramah would deliver the keynote address.

“The event, which will hold in Abuja, is expected to bring together international relations experts, former foreign affairs ministers, top diplomats, and former heads of security and military agencies.

“As a group of senior Nigerians, the focus of the academy is to undertake deep and critical thinking on all thematic issues pertaining to strengthening Nigeria’s national image and international standing.

“The event will focus on the problem of economic integration, inter-African trade relations and the operationalisation of effective payment systems,” the statement said.

It added that the inaugural ceremony will also feature the investiture of honorary fellowships for a number of deserving Nigerians.

Listed for the investiture are pioneer career diplomats Philip Asiodu, Abdullahi Atta and Judith Atta, the first female permanent secretary of the foreign affairs ministry, etc.

(NAN)