The Director-General is the Chief Research and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute.  The Director of Research and Studies directly supervises the Research and Studies Department.  The Department is the nerve centre of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs charged with the development and execution of primary and secondary research projects of the Institute. In the fulfilment of its mandate, the Department organizes conferences, seminars, symposia and lectures for the enlightenment of the general public. The Department coordinates the research activities through its five divisions:

The Division of International Politics

Division of International Law and Organisations

Division of International Economic Relations

Division of Security and Strategic Studies

The Division of African Politics and Integration