From Dili To Bissau And Lagos: Badejo’s Timor-Leste Award And The Power Of Unseen Diplomacy

By Anuoluwapo Deborah Babawale
The survival of a nation extends far beyond the medals and applause at high-level ceremonies. Instead, it takes people who sit in windowless rooms negotiating with hostile military juntas. They get no applause, but if they make one clerical error, the peace treaty collapses.
Recently, President José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste conferred the prestigious Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste on Nigerian scholar-diplomat and Founder of Yintab Strategy Consults, Professor Babafemi A. Badejo. Yet, amidst the diplomatic fanfare, the moment that struck me most was Prof. Badejo’s acceptance speech. Rather than claiming sole credit, he dedicated the medal to “every qu...