Gbenro Adesina
The African Digital Diplomacy Research Group, in conjunction with the African Centre for the Study of the US, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, held its First African Digital Diplomacy Conference with the theme, “Proactive responses to the understudied knowledge gaps in African digital diplomacy in the era of COVID-19” on August 19 and 26, 2020.
The virtual conference was put together to proactively respond to knowledge gaps in African digital diplomacy in view of its understudied and under-theorized status, which was made even more urgent by the online culture imposed by COVID-19.
The opening address was delivered by Prof Gilbert Khadiagala, Director, African Centre for the Study of the United States, who extended a warm welcome to the participants. Khadiagala highlighted the significance of the conference as it focused on the “digital” and “diplomacy” nexus during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, considering that countries across the world have had to make to embrace digital solutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two-day event featured presentations by participants from several African countries, who delivered papers on various issues relating to Digital Diplomacy.
The conference had in attendance three scholars from Nigeria: Dr Olubukola S. Adesina, University of Ibadan, Dr Collins Kediehor, University of Benin and Dr Floribert Patrick C. Endong, University of Calabar.
Adesina presented a paper titled, “The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and Nigeria’s Digital Diplomacy in Practice”, while Kediehor’s presentation was titled, “Smart Digital Platforms and Diplomatic Relations of Nigeria and the International Community”.
Endong presented two papers titled, “Robotizing and De-Africanising Public Diplomacy? A Philosophico-Cultural Perspective on the Digitization of African Diplomacy” and “Twitting to Vindicate the Marginalised Nigerian Diaspora in China: A Content Analysis of Nigeria MFA’s online Communications”.
Other presentations include, “African Digital Diplomacy: From Interest to Strategy and Training” by Dr Bob Wekesa, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg; “‘Digital Divide’ in Africa During the COVID-19 Pandemic” by Yarik Turianskyi, South African Institute of International Affairs; “The Role of Digital Diplomacy in State Recognition in Africa” by Dr Ibrahim Roba, Dr Patrick Maluki, Dr Korwa Gombe Adar, University of Nairobi; “Digital Diplomacy and the Death of Traditional Diplomacy: A Reality or a Myth? A Truth or a Farce?” by Martin Nguru,University of Nairobi, Kenya.
