Abstract
Every nation in the global arena pursues a foreign policy that is consistent with its existence as a nation and relates to other independent states in the international system. These policies are aimed at protecting the country’s cultural values, ideological goals and national security. Nigeria became a part of the committee of independent nations in 1960 full of hope and vigor and ready to expend its political, economic and natural human resources for the growth, unity and development of Africa. Nigeria since independence thus pursues foreign policies that are in tune with the beliefs and aspirations of the founding fathers of the nation, a foreign policy that is concentric in nature and content and which has as one of its core values-‘the Africa Centre Piece’. This paper examined the various roles Nigeria has played in the development of some international organizations in Africa. This paper adopted doctrinal method where the relevant primary and secondary sources were utilized. It was found that since her independence in 1960, Nigeria has sustained the Pan-African engagement of her foreign policy without wavering. It concluded that despite Nigeria’s contributions and sacrifices towards the continental unity project, her efforts have hardly been recognised, acknowledged and compensated and the future of these international organisations depends on the commitment of all the member states to make the continental unity project work. Finally, it was recommended that for Nigeria to however, continue to assert itself in Africa, emphasis should be on improving good governance, controlling corruption, increasing access to quality education, food and health security among its populace and of course infrastructural development which is consistent with the motive for rapid and sustainable socioeconomic development.