Ambassador Udo Moses Williams Opens the Door to the World of Diplomacy in Exciting New Book
By Emmanuel Olugua
Diplomacy has often been regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious yet least understood professions. While diplomats shape international relations, negotiate peace, promote trade, protect national interests, and represent their countries on the global stage, few books have successfully explained what the profession truly entails or how aspiring professionals can build successful careers within it. Ambassador Udo Moses Williams’ latest book, The Diplomat: A Coveted Career, fills that long-standing gap with remarkable authority.
Drawing from over 27 years of distinguished service in Nigeria’s diplomatic corps, Ambassador Williams offers readers an insider’s guide to one of the most respected careers in public service. Armed with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in International Relations from Ohio State University, he served Nigeria between 1981 and 2008 in several strategic capacities, rising to become Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary while leading important departments within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His career spanned virtually every dimension of diplomacy. He directed Nigeria’s International Economic Cooperation Directorate, supervised the Multilateral Economic Cooperation Division, headed the European Affairs Department, and managed complex political, economic, consular, and bilateral relations with countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Throughout these assignments, he helped strengthen Nigeria’s international partnerships and elevated the country’s voice within the global diplomatic community.
His impressive diplomatic footprint took him to countries including the United States, Canada, Belgium, England, Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Barbados, and numerous other nations where he represented Nigeria with distinction. Among his many notable assignments was coordinating the landmark United Nations Conference on Disarmament held in Abuja in 1990, an event involving the world’s only permanent multilateral disarmament treaty negotiating body.
Yet The Diplomat: A Coveted Career is far more than a memoir. It is a practical handbook, an academic reference, and a career guide rolled into one comprehensive volume. Inspired by years of professional experience—and encouraged by his wife of over four decades, Ekaette Akra Williams, who believed his wealth of knowledge should be preserved for future generations—Ambassador Williams has produced a work designed to educate, inspire, and prepare the next generation of diplomats.
The book carefully demystifies diplomacy by explaining not only what diplomats do but also how aspiring professionals can enter the service. It takes readers through the educational qualifications, skills, experiences, and institutional pathways required to build a successful diplomatic career. It also provides a detailed understanding of the structure and functions of ministries of foreign affairs, the daily responsibilities of diplomats, international negotiations, crisis management, bilateral and multilateral relations, diplomatic correspondence, protocols, etiquette, treaties, and legal instruments.
One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its practical orientation. Rather than remaining within the realm of theory, Ambassador Williams includes templates for diplomatic communications, official documents, and real-world practices that young diplomats, researchers, civil servants, and international relations students can immediately apply. This practical approach distinguishes the work from many established texts on diplomacy that focus primarily on historical or theoretical discussions.
Another unique contribution is its global perspective. Recognising that diplomacy differs significantly across regions, the author explores the cultural, political, and historical factors that shape diplomatic practice in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He also addresses the growing importance of digital diplomacy, examining how technology and social media are transforming international engagement in the twenty-first century.
Written in clear, accessible language, the book successfully bridges the gap between scholarship and professional practice. Whether the reader is a university student, policy maker, foreign service officer, academic, journalist, or simply someone fascinated by international affairs, The Diplomat: A Coveted Career offers invaluable insights drawn from decades of firsthand experience.
At a time when global challenges demand skilled negotiators, visionary leaders, and competent representatives of national interests, Ambassador Udo Moses Williams has produced a timely and enduring contribution to diplomatic literature. His work not only chronicles an accomplished career but also provides a roadmap for those who aspire to serve their countries on the international stage.
The Diplomat: A Coveted Career is indeed a masterclass in diplomacy and an indispensable guide for anyone seeking to understand, enter, or excel in one of the world’s most influential professions.