President Bola Tinubu has urged the BRICS bloc to prioritise climate justice, environmental protection, and healthcare equity, as these challenges continue to hinder the growth and development of emerging economies.
Speaking at the 17th meeting of BRICS—held on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—President Tinubu stated that Nigeria supports BRICS’ call for collective, fair, and equitable global development.
He emphasised that the current global structure needs financial restructuring and reform to address long-standing inequalities.
“Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” Tinubu said, calling for accessible climate financing, technology transfer, and support for initiatives like the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall.
Nigeria officially became the ninth BRICS partner country in January 2025, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan—following a new partner-country framework established at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in 2024.
Tinubu, who was invited by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, used the platform to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to South-South cooperation, renewable energy transition, universal health coverage, and youth-focused development, noting that 70% of Nigeria’s population is under 30.
“We must be the architects of a future that addresses the specific needs and concerns of our people,”
Tinubu declared, stressing that Nigeria’s Vision 2050 and nationally determined climate commitments guide its domestic and international actions.
Tinubu was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar and Finance Minister Wale Edun.
In its statement, the Brazilian government, which holds the pro tempore BRICS presidency, noted Nigeria’s admission as a partner reflects its status as Africa’s most populous nation and an influential voice in South-South cooperation and global governance reform.
