Nigeria’s Participation in the G20: Advocacy Roles and Economic Diplomacy

This study examines Nigeria's engagement with the Group of Twenty (G20) as an invitee and African Union representative, assessing how Nigeria has used this platform to advance its economic diplomacy interests and broader African development priorities. Nigeria is not a formal G20 member but has participated in summit processes as an invited African state and through the AU's permanent observer status, which was formalised in 2023. Drawing on middle-power theory and economic diplomacy frameworks, this research traces Nigeria's G20 engagement from 2019 to 2024, focusing on its advocacy positions on debt relief, climate finance, and digital economy governance. The study employs a qualitative methodology, relying on analysis of G20 summit documentation, Nigerian presidential speeches, AU common position papers, and academic commentary. Interviews with officials at the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria provide primary perspectives on Nigeria's preparation for G20 participation. The research examines the coherence between Nigeria's stated G20 positions and its domestic economic policy trajectory. Findings are expected to show that Nigeria's G20 participation has been incrementally assertive, particularly on debt restructuring and climate finance, but is hampered by limited technical preparation capacity and weak coordination with other African G20 participants. Recommendations address institutionalising Nigeria's G20 preparatory process. Keywords: G20, Nigeria, economic diplomacy, Africa, debt relief.