International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Review

This paper investigates the trajectory of Nigeria’s foreign policy in the Organisation of African Unity from 1960-2002. However, after the attainment of Nigerian independence on October 3 1960, Nigeria immediately sought, directed and positioned its foreign policy objectives in accordance with the OAU’s policy objectives. These policy objectives of the OAU include total decolonisation and promotion of socio-economic development of the African continent at that time (1963-2002). Thus, the analysis in this paper draws on Nigeria’s foreign policy and its engagement within the Organisation and how these had translated into the actualisation of the OAU’s pan-Africanist ideology before its transformation into the AU in 2002. This paper draws on extensive secondary literature from academic, the African Union, and the Organisation of African Unity. The findings in this paper are: Nigeria’s efforts in the OAU from 1963 towards the 1990s were directed and targeted to facilitate decolonisation of Africa, and not to promote, or nurture democracy.