Vice-President Kashim Shettima is set to travel to New Delhi, India, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit scheduled for this weekend.
The trip comes as President Tinubu remains in Europe on vacation, while Shettima embarks on another international engagement less than 48 hours after returning from Angola, where he attended the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
According to a statement by the Vice-President’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, Nigeria’s participation at the BRICS summit will focus on strengthening relations with major international partners, expanding economic ties and advancing the country’s strategic interests.
“The engagement will provide Nigeria with another platform to strengthen partnerships in trade and investment, energy, agriculture, solid minerals, technology, and innovation, while promoting greater cooperation among countries of the Global South.” the statement said.
Shettima is expected to participate in plenary and high-level sessions involving leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, with discussions centred on global economic growth, multilateral cooperation and shared development priorities.
He is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with leaders and senior officials from participating countries, where opportunities for stronger economic and diplomatic relations with Nigeria are expected to feature prominently.
India is hosting the 2026 BRICS chairship under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The summit is expected to address issues spanning political and security cooperation, economic and financial partnerships, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Nigeria became a BRICS partner country in January 2025, providing the country with an additional avenue to deepen South-South cooperation and engage emerging economies on trade, investment, development finance and reforms to global governance institutions.
According to the statement, “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 also coincides with the 20th anniversary of BRICS as the bloc seeks to strengthen practical cooperation among its growing membership and network of partner countries.
Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria after the summit.
His latest trip comes against the backdrop of criticism from opposition groups over the absence of both the President and Vice-President from the country.
At the time President Tinubu left Nigeria for his vacation, Shettima was in Angola for the African Union meeting. He subsequently returned to Nigeria less than two days after the President’s departure.
Post A Comment: