Foreign affairs minister Yusuf Tuggar has called for stronger collaboration between Nigeria’s policy and research institutions to ensure evidence-based policymaking.

Mr Tuggar made the call in a statement on Wednesday. The statement, released ahead of the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31), highlighted the roles of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and other think tanks.

Mr Tuggar said there was a need to invest in policy intelligence to strengthen governance and drive Nigeria’s domestic and foreign policy objectives.

“This entails building a pipeline of ideas, innovation, and informed foresight through collaboration among government, academia, civil society, and research institutions. Geopolitics today is defined by weaponised interdependence. We must be smarter, faster, and more strategic in serving Nigeria’s priorities,” he said.

He said Nigeria’s diplomacy must deliver tangible benefits through trade under AfCFTA, investment facilitation, climate finance, and advocacy for Africa’s global interests.

Mr Tuggar expressed optimism that discussions at NES #31 would yield actionable reforms and foster shared responsibility among key stakeholders.

“Our challenge is to turn dialogue into delivery. With aligned ambition and implementation, Nigeria can lead regionally and globally,” he said.

The minister commended the Nigerian Economic Summit Group as one of the nation’s most enduring institutions of policy innovation and democratic dialogue. He described the NESG as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s development framework and a vital pillar for governance and reform.

Mr Tuggar also praised the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the NESG for sustaining a legacy of constructive public–private dialogue. He said the collaboration had shaped Nigeria’s economic direction for over three decades through consistent engagement and reform advocacy.

“For 30 years, the Summit has evolved from an annual event into an institution where ideas meet action and both sectors shape Nigeria’s shared future,” he said.

He described the theme, ‘The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030’, as timely and visionary. According to him, Nigeria has entered a transformative phase in which reform is essential for achieving macroeconomic stability and regaining investor confidence.

He stated that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was pursuing bold, people-centered reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda to strengthen fiscal and monetary stability. The minister emphasised that Nigeria’s foreign policy must serve its economic ambitions by unlocking trade corridors and attracting investment.

He said under Mr Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria’s foreign policy was guided by strategic autonomy and partnerships of purpose.

“Nigeria must reject binary ideological alignments and adopt issue-based relationships that advance national interests. We are too significant a nation to engage in bandwagon diplomacy,” Mr Tuggar stated.

He reaffirmed that Nigeria’s prosperity is linked to West Africa’s progress, stressing the importance of regional value chains and policy harmonisation.

“The more we invest in regional cooperation, the more resilient and competitive we become as a bloc,” he said.

(NAN)