Tinubu Arrives Brazil for BRICS 2025 Summit as Nigeria Joins New League of Partner Nations
Tinubu arrives in Brazil for Nigeria’s first official participation at the BRICS Summit.
The summit highlights Nigeria’s partner status and aims to boost investment from emerging economies.
President Bola Tinubu has landed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ahead of the 17th BRICS Summit, where Nigeria will participate for the first time as an official partner country in the influential economic bloc.
His presence in Brazil follows a seven-day state visit to Saint Lucia, marking a new diplomatic milestone for Nigeria, which previously held only guest status in the BRICS network. Tinubu was invited by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to attend the summit scheduled for July 6–7, 2025.
Formed initially by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS has evolved into a powerful coalition of emerging economies. In 2024, the group expanded to include six additional member states: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. Nigeria was formally admitted as one of the bloc’s nine partner countries in January 2025, following its observer participation at the 2024 summit in Kaza, Russia.
The newly granted partner status enables Nigeria to contribute to official BRICS documents and discussions, as well as participate in strategic initiatives, economic programs, and multilateral summits. This development is expected to enhance Nigeria’s visibility on the global stage, particularly among economies in the Global South.
The 2025 summit, hosted in Brazil’s coastal city of Rio de Janeiro, has been themed around global governance reform and cooperation within the Global South community. The gathering is anticipated to focus on reshaping multilateral financial institutions and improving the role of developing economies in global decision-making.
Nigeria is expected to leverage its participation to attract foreign direct investment from BRICS nations, such as China, India, and the UAE, all of which are key investors in emerging markets. Officials say the summit provides a significant platform to showcase investment-ready sectors in Nigeria, including:
- Energy
- Solid minerals
- Agriculture
- Technology and Innovation
With the global economy transitioning toward frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing, gene editing, big data, blockchain, and robotics, Nigeria aims to position itself as a viable destination for tech-driven industrial expansion. Countries like China, Brazil, and India already lead in these sectors, making collaboration and investor inflow increasingly strategic for Nigeria’s growth.
President Tinubu departed Nigeria on June 28 for a two-nation diplomatic tour, which began with a visit to Saint Lucia. His attendance at the BRICS summit signals Nigeria’s rising influence and commitment to deeper ties with emerging economies.
At the 2024 summit in Russia, Nigeria was among nine countries invited as observers. The subsequent elevation to partner nation status reflects growing recognition of Nigeria’s role in regional stability, economic reform, and population-driven market potential.
As the summit opens in Rio, Nigeria’s delegation is expected to engage in high-level discussions that may shape long-term development cooperation with fellow BRICS members and partners.
