Nigerians in Diaspora and the Challenges of Withering Image: Is Citizen Diplomacy an Option?

Abstract

The withering image of Nigeria internationally has been an issue that has plagued the country since independence. In proffering solutions, successive governments have developed different foreign policies, the most recent one being citizen diplomacy, which entails the individual citizen helping to shape the image of their country. However, this citizen diplomacy has had mixed reactions from different quarters due to the mixed treatment that Nigerians in the diaspora have faced. Therefore, the study set out the objectives of examining the different foreign policies Nigeria has had, investigating the image problem of Nigeria, identifying the challenges those who are proffering solutions face, and investigating whether citizen diplomacy can portray the good side of Nigeria. Secondary sources of data collection were used with the aid of journals, magazines, newspapers and most notably, the internet. The study concludes that although citizen diplomacy has had its fair share of good and bad for the country, it is necessary to portray the image better by both the citizens and the country's government. It was then recommended that the government reorient its citizens accordingly and reduce the need for Nigerians traveling abroad for greener pastures.