Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has arrived in New Delhi, India, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit.
Shettima’s participation is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic ties with BRICS member and partner countries, with particular attention to trade, investment, technology and sustainable development.
The summit is being held under the theme, “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Shettima is leading a high-level Nigerian delegation that includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani; and Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal.
Nigeria Targets Trade and Investment Opportunities
Ahead of the summit, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria would use the BRICS platform to pursue new partnerships and investment opportunities in agriculture, technology, artificial intelligence, trade and the digital economy.
She said Nigeria was particularly interested in India’s experience in using technology and artificial intelligence to create opportunities for its large youth population.
“India is firm in its expertise in agriculture and, of course, even in the digital economy. In fact, prior to this, we had a session dealing with women in the digital economy and artificial intelligence, and we are leveraging on India’s greatest strength, which is in the engagement of its youth population,” she said.
Oduwole also said the Tinubu administration was seeking to deepen Nigeria’s trade relationship with India, which she said had previously reached about $14 billion.
She disclosed that major investors of Indian origin had expressed interest in meeting the Nigerian delegation, while Nigeria also maintains significant trade relationships with other BRICS countries.
“And so, deepening those relationships will further strengthen the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. India used to buy Nigerian oil quite a lot, so we are looking at how to expand that with everything going on in the world,” Oduwole said.
Shettima to Hold Bilateral Talks
At the summit, Shettima is expected to join leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, alongside representatives of invited international organisations, for discussions on global growth, resilience, innovation and sustainable development.
He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings focused on Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic interests, including trade, investment, agriculture, technology and industrial development.
Nigeria became a BRICS partner country in January 2025. Since then, the country has used the platform to expand South-South cooperation and strengthen engagement with major emerging economies.
The Nigerian delegation will also participate in the BRICS open session and other activities scheduled on the sidelines of the summit.
