German Language Use in Nigerian Diplomatic Services: An Exploratory Study

This exploratory study investigates the role of German language proficiency in Nigeria's diplomatic services, with a focus on officers deployed to German-speaking countries and those engaged in bilateral trade and development cooperation. Nigeria maintains active diplomatic relations with Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and the volume of official exchanges between these nations has grown substantially in recent years. Despite this, there is limited empirical understanding of how German language skills are valued, assessed, and utilised within Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant parastatal agencies. The study employs a qualitative design, drawing on semi-structured interviews with eight current and retired Nigerian diplomats who served in German-speaking postings, supplemented by documentary analysis of publicly available foreign policy and trade documents. Findings suggest that German language proficiency is generally regarded as an asset rather than a requirement, with English serving as the default language of most official exchanges. However, participants reported that German language ability significantly enhanced informal diplomatic engagement and facilitated deeper professional relationships with counterparts. The study recommends that the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs incorporate structured German language training into its professional development programmes. Keywords: German language, Nigerian diplomacy, bilateral relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, language proficiency.