When Africa is the centrepiece of Nigeria's foreign policy, it is said to be _________

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the term used when Africa is the "centrepiece" (the central focus) of Nigeria's foreign policy.

Step 2: Explain the concept Nigeria's foreign policy has long been described as "Afrocentric", meaning Africa is placed at the centre of Nigeria's external relations. This is why Nigeria supported:

• The decolonisation of African countries and the fight against apartheid in South Africa
• The formation of the OAU (now AU) and ECOWAS
• Peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and elsewhere

Let's look at the options:

• Afrocentric: Africa is the centre or focus. This matches the wording "centrepiece" directly.
• Regional: This refers to a particular region (e.g. West Africa), not the whole of Africa as a focus.
• Concentric: This describes circles sharing a common centre. It is used in the "concentric circles" model of foreign policy, but it is not the term for Africa being the centrepiece.
• Pan-African: This refers to the ideology of unity and solidarity among African peoples. It is related, but it describes a movement or ideology, not a foreign policy focus.

Step 3: Solution "Centre" in the question matches the "centric" in Afrocentric: Africa-centred. Nigeria's foreign policy since independence, from Balewa's government onward, has been described as "Afrocentric", with Africa as the "centrepiece."

Step 4: Answer The correct option is **A.

Tip: Link the word "centrepiece" to "-centric". Whenever you see "centre" and "Africa" together in a Nigerian foreign policy question, think Afro-centric. Do not confuse it with "Pan-African", which is about unity, not policy focus.