The Management of Nigeria’s International Trade Missions: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Commercial Diplomacy

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Nigeria's international trade missions as instruments of commercial diplomacy, examining how government-led trade delegations and investment promotion activities translate into tangible economic outcomes in terms of deals, partnerships, and export market development. Trade missions are an established tool of economic diplomacy, yet their return on investment in the Nigerian context has rarely been rigorously assessed. Drawing on commercial diplomacy theory and public management evaluation frameworks, this research analyses selected trade missions conducted by Nigeria to the United Arab Emirates, China, and South Korea from 2020 to 2024, examining their organisation, follow-up mechanisms, and reported outcomes. The study employs a qualitative methodology, drawing on Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) reports, Ministry of Trade and Investment documentation, and semi-structured interviews with trade mission participants including Nigerian exporters and NIPC officials. Attention is paid to the conversion rate between memoranda of understanding signed and actual investment or trade flows generated. Findings are expected to reveal that trade missions generate significant visibility and MOU signings but convert poorly into sustained trade and investment outcomes due to weak post-mission follow-up, limited NIPC capacity, and Nigeria's challenging investment environment. Recommendations focus on improving mission design, follow-up protocols, and private sector integration. Keywords: trade missions, commercial diplomacy, Nigeria, NIPC, economic diplomacy.