Programme: Policy and Strategic Studies

Nigeria’s foreign policy engagement with China has grown significantly in recent years yet concerns persist about the long-term implications of China’s expanding soft power. While economic dependency, cultural assimilation, and asymmetrical partnerships have been raised as potential risks, there remains a lack of empirical research evaluating how China’s soft power influences Nigeria’s policy space, institutions, and public perception. This dissertation seeks to address this gap by assessing the effectiveness of China’s soft power in achieving foreign policy outcomes in Nigeria from 2019 to 2024. To situate this inquiry, the study began by reviewing key soft power concepts including cultural diplomacy, educational exchange, development assistance, media influence, and public diplomacy drawing on global case studies from countries such as Germany, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Denmark, and the United States. The Soft Power Theory expounded by Alexander Vuving was used as a framework to guide the analysis. Using a qualitative methodology, primary data were gathered through in-depth interviews with Nigerian stakeholders across academia, government, and civil society. These were complemented by secondary data from academic literature, policy documents, and institutional reports. Findings show that China’s soft power strategies such as Confucius Institutes, media partnerships, scholarships, and development aid have had mixed results. While they have increased China’s cultural and political visibility, local responses range from acceptance to scepticism, with concerns about equity, agency, and long-term alignment. Nigeria’s own cultural exports, though promising, remain under-leveraged. Recommendations include the need for balanced partnerships, transparent diplomacy, and proactive policy engagement by Nigeria. The study concluded that soft power is not value-neutral it must be negotiated to serve national interests.

The goal of developing a country's foreign policy is to advance and safeguard the country's national objectives. Therefore, the essence of this study is to analyse the principles of Nigeria’s foreign policy in the context of the country’s present socio-political realities. The study engaged secondary data, while the theory of Manifest Destiny was adopted. Findings revealed that Nigeria has not reaped the rewards of all its sacrifices and dedication to the African course. This study recommends that there should be a reconstruction of Nigeria’s foreign policy based on its current realities of tribal sectioning and religious interest by pursuing a foreign policy that is centred on the country and her citizens as a united entity.

Programme: Policy and Strategic Studies

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