BEYOND THE POLITICS: Why Nigeria Must Send Experts, Not Politicians, to Global And Local Business Deals

-By Zik Gbemre

When global leaders sit down to talk business, who they bring to the table tells you everything you need to know about what they want to achieve.

Look at how major global summits work. When top world leaders meet to discuss the future of technology, energy, or trade, the room isn't just filled with politicians in suits and 'agbada'. It is packed with people who actually run the world’s biggest industries—CEOs of major tech companies, energy pioneers, top engineers, and financial strategists. Why? Because politicians make policy, but experts and business leaders build the economy.

Unfortunately, when you look at how foreign trade and diplomatic missions are handled back home in Nigeria, the picture is very different.

The Problem with Our Foreign Delegations
Whether it is attending the United Nations General Assembly or travelling abroad to sign critical mineral and business deals, Nigerian delegations are almost always dominated by politicians:

* Too Many Politicians, Too Few Experts: When ministers go abroad to negotiate agreements on complex sectors like mining, agriculture, or tech, climate change, the entourage is usually filled with political aides, state governors, and party loyalists.
* Lack of Technical Knowledge: A political appointee might be great at winning elections, but do they understand geological mapping, mineral processing, or high-tech supply chains? Without field experts, geologists,engineers and real local business owners in the room, Nigeria enters critical negotiations at a huge disadvantage.
* Photo-Ops Over Concrete Deals: Because the delegation lacks the technical team needed to iron out practical details, many of these foreign trips end up as mere photo opportunities. Pacts and MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) are signed with great fanfare, but nothing happens on the ground afterward.
Why Experience & Competence Matter More Than Certificates
Nigeria cannot build a modern, competitive economy through political patronage. What the country needs is a shift toward practical competence and genuine expertise.

Having a long list of academic titles or political certificates does not automatically make someone capable of negotiating complex global trade deals. President Bola Tinubu’s administration needs people with proven track records, practical skills, and technical knowledge—not just people who were rewarded with seats on a plane because of political loyalty.

3 Simple Steps to Fix This:
If Nigeria wants to start getting real economic results from foreign trips, the government should implement three practical rules:

1. Cut the Political Entourage: Restrict foreign business delegations to essential government officials only.
2. Bring Real Sector Players: Ensure at least half of any business delegation consists of actual Nigerian business owners, engineers, geologists, and industry specialists who know the trade inside out.
3. Focus on Execution: Send people who can come back home and actually build the factories, extract the minerals, or write the software—not political chaperones who move on to the next event once the flight lands.
The Bottom Line:
A government that wants to compete globally must run its administration with high-potential, highly capable and thoughtful individuals. If Nigeria continues to send entourages dominated by politicians who contribute little to technical discussions, the country will keep missing out on real foreign investment.

It is time to replace political sightseeing with strategic, expert-led diplomacy.

Zik Gbemre
September 30,2026

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