By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Federal Government has charged career diplomats to be hard-working and always strive to achieve excellence as they represent the face of the nation in a foreign land.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, who gave this charge in Abuja during a public presentation of a book entitled: “Humility in Diplomacy,” authored by the Chief of Protocol of the Ministry, Ambassador Bello Kazaure, said diplomats whose careers were full of adventures and travels across the globe need to document their experience to serve as a reference material for up-and-coming diplomats.
“When I think of Amb. Bello Husseini Kazaure, I think of a diplomat with humility, I think of hard work. One thing you cannot miss is that smile that the reviewer talked about. A diplomat always has a unique life, going around the whole world, and meeting people from diverse cultures. So, I will encourage every diplomat to document their experience, so that there would be a body of knowledge for prospective diplomats to draw inspiration from,” he said.
Agreeing with the Foreign Minister, the book reviewer, and former Director-General, of Nigeria Institute for International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, who was represented at the event, said the book would serve as reference material for diplomats.
The Chief of staff to the President Professor Ibrahim Gambari, represented by Ambassador Janet Olisah, described the author as a disciplined and dedicated diplomat whose career touched many aspects of the Foreign Service.
The Emir of Kano Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero urged career diplomats still in the civil service to document their lives and times experiences while in service and not to wait till they retire.
Ambassador Kazaure expressed hope that the book would contribute to the body of knowledge for upcoming diplomats, noting that the book chronicled his service trajectory so as to serve as a guide to aspiring diplomats, as well as a research material for students of international relation.
He added that it is a historic document that captured the administrative and physical development of various missions he served.
He said: “When I joined foreign service, I noticed that it was a profession that connects the world. I have been opportune to move around, I have travelled to all the continents of the world. In the course of my job, I noticed that humility is key to success if you want to succeed in diplomacy.”
The 257-page book captures the life and times of Ambassador Bello Kazaure.
