As world leaders converge on New Delhi, India, for the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit holding from September 12 to 13, 2026, Nigeria is set to consolidate bilateral relations with key international partners, expand economic cooperation and advance its 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.
To advance these objectives, Vice President Kashim Shettima will be in New Delhi to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the summit scheduled to hold at Bharat Mandapam.
India’s 2026 BRICS chairship is anchored on the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, with deliberations expected to cover political and security cooperation, economic and financial partnerships, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
While in New Delhi, Shettima will join leaders of BRICS member and partner nations, alongside other invited dignitaries, at plenary and high-level sessions examining global economic growth, multilateral cooperation and shared development priorities.
The Vice President will also hold bilateral engagements with leaders and senior officials of participating countries, with discussions expected to focus on opportunities for deeper economic and diplomatic cooperation with Nigeria.
Nigeria, a BRICS partner country since January 2025, is opening another channel to deepen South-South cooperation and engage some of the world’s largest emerging economies on trade, investment, development finance and the reform of global governance institutions.
The country’s participation is consistent with President Tinubu’s drive to strengthen Nigeria’s international economic partnerships, attract investment and expand markets for Nigerian products, particularly in agriculture, energy, minerals and other non-oil sectors.
The summit comes as BRICS marks 20 years since its establishment and as the grouping seeks greater practical cooperation among its expanding network of member and partner countries.
Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), said in a statement that Shettima would return to Nigeria shortly after participating in the event.
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