President Bola Tinubu on Friday night arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 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, Bayo Onanuga, the presidential jet, which departed Saint Lucia earlier in the day, touched down at the the Galeao Air Force Base tarmac at about 8:45 pm (local time).
President Tinubu was received by Brazilian officials, including the Secretary for Africa and the Middle East and the Secretary for Innovation and Commerce.
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 to reposition 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 Kazan, Russia.
This partnership allows Nigeria to engage with the bloc’s economic and political initiatives without holding 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
