Nigerian President Arrives Brazil For G20 Summit

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday morning to participate in the Heads of State and Government Summit of the Group of 20 (G20).

The summit, scheduled for today and tomorrow, revolves around the theme “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet” and will explore the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, alongside discussions on global governance reforms.

Touching down at about 3 a.m. Nigerian time, President Tinubu was welcomed by Ambassador Breno Costa of Brazil’s Ministry of External Relations.

Accompanying the President are a delegation of top officials, including Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development; Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Tourism, Culture, and Creativity; and Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, Director General of the National Intelligence Agency.

In addition to participating in plenary discussions, the Nigerian leader is expected to hold bilateral meetings with other global leaders on the sidelines of the summit. These engagements are aimed at advancing Nigeria’s socio-economic reforms and fostering international collaboration.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is hosting the summit, having assumed the G20’s rotating presidency in December 2023. His tenure, marked by a focus on sustainability and inclusivity, concludes on November 30, 2024.

Tinubu’s attendance follows an invitation from President Da Silva, conveyed through Brazil’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Areias, on August 29, 2024. This year’s G20 summit also includes representatives from the African Union and the European Union, underscoring the growing importance of multilateral engagement.

The G20 consists of 19 member nations and the European Union. Participating countries include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the UK, and the US.