Arabic Language and Cultural Diplomacy: An Analysis of Nigeria’s Engagement with Arabic-Speaking Nations Through Cultural Exchanges

Nigeria's cultural diplomacy with Arabic-speaking nations operates through multiple channels including student exchange programmes, cultural festivals, language schools, and bilateral cultural agreements, and Arabic language capacity plays a central but often under-articulated role in determining the depth and effectiveness of these diplomatic cultural exchanges. This study analyses the role of Arabic language in Nigeria's cultural diplomacy with Arab League member states, examining the language dimensions of cultural exchange programmes and the extent to which Arabic proficiency shapes diplomatic cultural outcomes. Using a diplomatic studies and applied linguistics interdisciplinary methodology, the research examines documentation from Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, and five Nigerian universities with active Arabic cultural exchange partnerships, supplemented by interviews with 20 cultural diplomacy officials, exchange alumni, and Arab embassy cultural attaches based in Abuja. The study maps the Arabic language requirements embedded in cultural diplomacy programmes, the actual Arabic proficiency levels of Nigerian cultural exchange participants, and the relationship between Arabic language capacity and the depth of cross-cultural engagement achieved. Findings show that Nigerian cultural diplomacy with the Arab world is significantly constrained by inadequate Arabic language capacity on the Nigerian side, limiting the richness of cultural exchange and the strategic return on diplomatic investment. Keywords: Arabic language, cultural diplomacy, Nigeria, Arab world, exchange programmes.