Abuja: President Bola Tinubu arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday night to participate in the 17th BRICS Summit.
This marks Nigeria’s long-awaited debut as a ‘partner country’ at the influential economic gathering.
According to a statement by Presidential Spokesperson, My Bayo Onanuga, the presidential jet, which departed Saint Lucia earlier in the day, touched down at the Galeao Air Force Base tarmac at about 8:45 pm (local time).
Brazilian officials, including the Secretary for Africa and the Middle East and the Secretary for Innovation and Commerce, received President Tinubu.
The Galeao Air Force Base Commander coordinated the Guard of Honour for President Tinubu.
Brazil’s Deputy Minister for Africa and the Middle East, Amb. Carlos Duarte, and the Deputy Minister for Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation, and Culture, received President Tinubu.
President Tinubu is in Brazil at the invitation of President Lula Da Silva.
According to the statement, the Nigerian leader will attend a bilateral meeting hosted by President Lula on Saturday, ahead of the summit on June 6 and 7.
At the BRICS Summit, the President will participate in a plenary session and deliver an address on Nigeria’s ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning the economy for global competitiveness.
He will also attract investors to capitalise on the country’s opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, healthcare, and alternative energy.
The summit’s theme is “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.” Deliberations will centre on health, Artificial Intelligence, governance, and Climate Change issues.
Ahead of the Leaders’ Summit, the political negotiators of BRICS brainstormed over aligning more commitments to combat socially determined diseases, artificial intelligence governance, and climate finance.
Their focus was on providing concrete solutions to the structural challenges faced by the Global South.
According to the statement, State Governors participating in the summit with the President are Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger).
The Nigerian leader is one of four African presidents invited to the summit, joining counterparts from South Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia, the three African nations that hold full BRICS membership.
Nigeria accepted an invitation to become a partner country in January 2025, following the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This partnership enables Nigeria to participate in the bloc’s economic and political initiatives without full membership.
The BRICS group consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In 2024-2025, they expanded by adding Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as full members, and also invited several other countries as partner countries
Nigeria is one of these partner countries, alongside Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
