President Bola Tinubu arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday night to take part in the 17th BRICS summit, marking Nigeria’s long-anticipated debut as a ‘partner country’ at the influential economic forum.
According to a statement from Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the presidential jet, which departed Saint Lucia earlier in the day, landed at the Galeão Air Force Base at about 8:45 pm local time.
President Tinubu was welcomed by Brazilian officials, including the Secretary for Africa and the Middle East and the Secretary for Innovation and Commerce. The Galeão Air Force Base Commander organised the Guard of Honour for the President.
Brazil’s Deputy Minister for Africa and the Middle East, Ambassador Carlos Duarte, alongside the Deputy Minister for Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation, and Culture, also received Mr Tinubu.
President Tinubu is in Brazil at the invitation of President Lula Da Silva. The statement noted that the Nigerian leader will attend a bilateral meeting hosted by President Lula on Saturday, ahead of the main summit scheduled for 6 and 7 July.
During the BRICS summit, the President will take part in the plenary session and deliver an address on Nigeria’s ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning the economy for global competitiveness. He will also seek to attract investors to take advantage of Nigeria’s opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, healthcare, and alternative energy.
The summit is themed “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance,” with discussions expected to focus on health, artificial intelligence, governance, and climate change.
Ahead of the Leaders’ Summit, BRICS political negotiators held talks on aligning greater commitments towards tackling socially determined diseases, AI governance, and climate finance, with an emphasis on providing practical solutions to the structural challenges facing the Global South.
The statement also listed state governors accompanying the President: Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger).
President Tinubu is one of four African heads of state invited to the summit, alongside leaders from South Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia—the three African nations with full BRICS membership.
Nigeria accepted an invitation to become a partner country in January 2025, following the BRICS summit held in Kazan, Russia. This partnership status allows Nigeria to engage in the bloc’s economic and political initiatives without holding full membership.
The BRICS group comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. During 2024-2025, it expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as full members, while also inviting other nations as partner countries. Nigeria joins this group alongside Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
