Lagos — Nigeria embarked on a historic robust diplomatic manoeuvre around the Southern African sub-region recently and leading this move was no other person than the country's topmost envoy, Minister of Foreign Affairs Chief Ojo Maduekwe.

The tour of countries of the South African Development Community (SADC) was the most unique in recent times and the significance is not lost to the international community. It echoes the fact that Nigeria remains the big brother on the African continent no-matter our internal problems. After all, when we had not embraced democracy and apartheid was holding sway in South Africa, we took it upon ourselves, both the citizenry and the government alike, to cry aloud and do everything possible to bury the evil practice.

From, Malawi, Mozambique Angola, Botwana to Namibia, the message reports were all more than expected. Rather than see Nigeria as an interferer or probably a leader of another sub-region trying to incuse into another region, the minister received very warm welcome. In Malawi, the president of the African Union, Malawian President, Bingu wa Mutharika was elated to receive the delegation and this was all over the real time media. Bingu commended Nigeria for its support especially in Malawi's administrative and judicial sectors urging that the momentum created by the visit be capitalized in the deepening and strengthening of ties between the two countries.

Maduekwe said Nigeria was looking into the possibility of opening a diplomatic mission in Malawi so as to enhance bilateral ties between the two nations, including establishing a Joint Bilateral Commission. He appealed to the Malawian government to take steps to protect the rights of Nigerians living in the country to provide them access for the pursuit of their legitimate business and means of livelihood.

Of significance also is that the foreign minister met with the Nigerian community in Malawi who had complained of indiscriminate and incessant arrest by Malawian Immigration authorities.

He urged them to be true and worthy ambassadors of Nigeria. His meeting with the Diaspora Nigerians in each country underscores his commitment to the policy of citizen diplomacy which he said was the focal point of his ministerial work after his appointment. His visit to Angola, Nigeria's competitor in oil production was very remarkable in the sense the meeting highlighted the need for an exchange of scientific knowledge and cooperation on security matters.

At present, Nigeria awaits an invitation from Angola for a bilateral commission meeting this year, for accords on issues for which the bases have already been established.

I have just given an appetizer to what really happened during the visit and full features would follow once I need a comprehensive briefing from the foreign ministry spokesman on all that happened during the visit. This is the tradition for journalists once you are not part of a delegation. You have to hear from the horse's mouth. I missed being part of the press coverage by whiskers and I am yet to recover from the trauma of not being part of this epoch making diplomatic shuttle. Being on the diplomatic beat for more than a decade now, I had looked forward to the visit as a very big boost to my credentials but was stopped hours to the visit by a broken car.

However, it is my hope that similar visits are on the offing because Maduekwe since his political career has been a personality imbued with ideas and implementation. He is the type fashioned mainly for the academia but decided to use his high cerebral power to impact on the society at large. He has been doing so consistently without being faulted. However, in my capacity as a columnist, I would urge Nigeria not to be distracted by some seeming conflicts at home and leave out such shuttles since we cannot forgo their impacts on shaping our external image.

Again, from what I can perceive, it may take some time for Nigeria's head of state to embark on any mission outside the country and such movements have their significance. In order not to miss out from whatever benefits, the foreign minister must need to embark on several external missions this time around because; the world is not waiting for Nigeria to settle every internal deficit. The world is moving on.