BRICS Summit: Nigeria Seeks Expanded Partnerships in New Delhi

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with key international partners at the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit, scheduled to hold from September 12 to 13.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Mr Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.

According to Nkwocha, the summit will offer Nigeria another platform to deepen partnerships in trade, investment, energy, agriculture, solid minerals, technology, and innovation — engagements he said would further promote cooperation among countries of the Global South.

He revealed that Vice President Kashim Shettima would represent President Bola Tinubu at the summit, holding in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. While in India, Shettima is expected to join leaders of BRICS member and partner nations at plenary and high-level sessions focused on global economic growth, multilateral cooperation, and shared development priorities.

Nkwocha added that the Vice President would also hold a series of bilateral engagements with leaders and senior officials from participating countries, with discussions expected to centre on opportunities for deeper economic and diplomatic cooperation with Nigeria.

"Nigeria, a BRICS partner country since January 2025, is opening another channel for the country to deepen South-South cooperation and engage some of the world's largest emerging economies on trade, investment, development finance and reform of global governance institutions," he said. "The country's participation is consistent with President Tinubu's drive to strengthen the country's international economic partnerships, attract investment and expand markets for Nigerian products, particularly in agriculture, energy, minerals and other non-oil sectors."

Nkwocha said Vice President Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria shortly after his participation at the summit concludes.