NIGERIA: Tinubu Arrives Brazil For BRICS Summit

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the 17th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the BRICS group,

The BRICS is a coalition of major emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The President’s arrival was confirmed in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy on Saturday.

Tinubu’s aircraft landed at the Galeao Air Force Base at 8.45 pm local time on Friday. He was received with a Guard of Honour coordinated by the Commander of the Base.

Brazil’s Deputy Minister for Africa and the Middle East, Ambassador Carlos Sergio Sobral Duarte, and the Deputy Minister for Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation, and Culture, welcomed the Nigerian leader.

Tinubu is visiting Brazil at the invitation of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He is expected to attend a bilateral meeting with his host today, July 5, ahead of the summit scheduled for July 6 and 7.

During the BRICS Summit, the Nigerian President will deliver a speech highlighting ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning the country’s economy for global competitiveness.

He is also expected to engage with investors to attract capital into Nigeria’s agriculture, solid minerals, healthcare, and alternative energy sectors.

This year’s summit is themed “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.”

Deliberations at the meeting will focus on health, Artificial Intelligence, governance, and climate change.

Ahead of the summit, BRICS political negotiators met to discuss aligning commitments on tackling socially determined diseases, managing AI governance, and boosting climate finance. The goal is to find practical solutions to long-standing structural challenges facing the Global South.

Governors accompanying the President are Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Prince Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, and Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger.