President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has landed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the 17th BRICS Summit, where he will join leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa in crucial discussions on global cooperation, sustainable development, and economic transformation.
Touching down at Galeão Air Force Base at 8:45 p.m. local time on Friday, Tinubu was welcomed with full military honours.
He was received by 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.
According to a statement by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu is in Brazil at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The Nigerian leader will attend a bilateral meeting with his Brazilian counterpart on Saturday, ahead of the official summit sessions slated for Sunday and Monday.
Tinubu is expected to use the platform to spotlight Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms and highlight new investment opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, solid minerals, healthcare, and alternative energy.
His keynote address will also emphasize Nigeria’s ambition to reposition itself for global competitiveness.
“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,” Onanuga noted.
This year’s summit is themed “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.” It aims to tackle pressing global issues including artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, health innovation, and equitable development.
Ahead of the summit, BRICS political and technical negotiators met to establish a coordinated strategy for addressing major challenges in the Global South—ranging from climate finance to governance of emerging technologies and improving health systems.
Accompanying President Tinubu are five Nigerian state governors: Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Mohammed Bago (Niger).
With global investors and fellow heads of state in attendance, President Tinubu’s mission is to position Nigeria as a leader among emerging economies and a top destination for international partnerships and investment.
