The Philosophy of International Law and Nigerian Sovereignty: Professional Implications for Diplomats and Legal Practitioners

This study examines the philosophy of international law and its implications for Nigerian sovereignty, with particular focus on the professional practice of Nigerian diplomats, foreign affairs officers, and international legal practitioners across the North Central and South West geopolitical zones. International law raises fundamental philosophical questions about the basis of legal obligation beyond the nation-state, the relationship between sovereignty and universal human rights, and the moral foundations of treaty commitments, questions that have direct practical implications for Nigerian professional practice in international forums. Using a professional practice design, the study draws on the philosophy of international law from Martti Koskenniemi, Allen Buchanan's justice in international law framework, and African perspectives on sovereignty, supplemented by secondary literature published between 2020 and 2024. Structured interviews with 20 diplomats, international law practitioners, and philosophy academics in Abuja and Lagos provide the primary data. Findings reveal that Nigerian diplomatic and legal professionals frequently encounter philosophical tensions between sovereignty-based and human rights-based international law principles that are insufficiently addressed in their professional training. The study argues that a philosophically informed understanding of the normative foundations of international law would improve Nigerian professionals' capacity to navigate these tensions. Keywords: philosophy of international law, sovereignty, Nigerian diplomacy, human rights, professional ethics.