President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the 17th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the BRICS economic bloc, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
His plane landed at the Galeão Air Force Base at 8:45 p.m. local time on Friday, where he was received with a Guard of Honour coordinated by the base commander. The visit was confirmed in a statement released Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled “President Tinubu Arrives in Rio De Janeiro for BRICS Meeting.”
President Tinubu is in Brazil at the invitation of his Brazilian counterpart, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Upon arrival, he was welcomed by Brazil’s Deputy Minister for Africa and the Middle East, Carlos Sergio Sobral Duarte, as well as the Deputy Minister for Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation, and Culture.
On Saturday, July 5, Tinubu is expected to participate in a bilateral meeting hosted by President Lula, ahead of the summit scheduled for July 6 and 7.
During the summit, President Tinubu will take part in the plenary session and deliver a speech highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms aimed at enhancing global competitiveness. He is also expected to engage with investors to promote opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, healthcare, and alternative energy sectors.
Themed “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance,” the summit will focus on critical global issues including healthcare, artificial intelligence, climate change, and governance.
In the run-up to the main event, BRICS political negotiators have held talks on aligning commitments to address pressing challenges facing the Global South, such as the impact of socially determined diseases, the ethical use of AI, and climate finance.
President Tinubu is accompanied by several Nigerian state governors including Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger).
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