Private Sector Engagement in Nigerian Diplomacy: The Role of Business Councils in Economic Statecraft

This study examines the role of private sector institutions, particularly bilateral business councils and chambers of commerce, in shaping and implementing Nigeria's economic diplomacy, assessing how public-private coordination in foreign trade and investment promotion contributes to or constrains foreign policy effectiveness. Nigeria maintains bilateral business councils with the United States, the European Union, China, and several Gulf states, which serve as platforms for business diplomacy, investment advocacy, and commercial intelligence gathering. Drawing on economic statecraft theory and public-private partnership frameworks, this research investigates the institutional design, membership composition, and policy influence of three selected bilateral business councils from 2020 to 2024. The study employs a qualitative methodology, drawing on business council annual reports, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment records, and semi-structured interviews with council secretariats and Nigerian private sector representatives. Particular attention is paid to how business councils have engaged with bilateral trade agreement negotiations and investment dispute resolution processes. Findings are expected to show that business councils serve as valuable commercial diplomacy platforms but lack systematic integration into formal foreign policy processes, limiting the strategic coherence of Nigeria's economic statecraft. Recommendations address governance reforms to formalise private sector input into Nigeria's economic diplomacy architecture. Keywords: economic statecraft, business councils, private sector diplomacy, Nigeria, trade policy.