Nigeria is seeking to deepen trade and investment relations with key emerging economies as Vice President Kashim Shettima represents President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India.
The summit, scheduled to hold this weekend at Bharat Mandapam, will bring together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries to discuss global economic growth, multilateral cooperation and shared development priorities.
The engagement is expected to provide Nigeria with an opportunity to strengthen partnerships in trade and investment, energy, agriculture, solid minerals, technology and innovation, while promoting greater cooperation among countries of the Global South.
According to the Presidency, Nigeria’s participation will also enable the country to “consolidate bilateral relations with key international partners, expand economic cooperation and advance its strategic interests.”
India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship is anchored on the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” with deliberations expected to cover political and security cooperation, economic and financial partnerships, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
While in New Delhi, Shettima will join leaders of BRICS member and partner nations at plenary and high-level sessions examining global economic growth, multilateral cooperation and shared development priorities.
The Vice President is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders and senior officials of participating countries, with discussions focusing on opportunities for deeper economic and diplomatic cooperation with Nigeria.
Nigeria became a BRICS partner country in January 2025, providing the country with another platform to strengthen South-South cooperation and engage some of the world’s largest emerging economies on trade, investment, development finance and reforms to global governance institutions.
The Presidency 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.
The summit comes as BRICS marks 20 years since its establishment, with the grouping seeking greater practical cooperation among its expanding network of member and partner countries.
Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria shortly after participating in the summit.