Shettima To BRICS Leaders: Nigeria Ready To Move From Dialogue To Delivery
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria is approaching the BRICS partnership with a defined objective to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen South-South partnerships, and advance Africa’s development priorities.
Shettima stated this while delivering President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s address at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India.
On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, Shettima appreciated the government and people of India for their hospitality and vision in leading BRICS as Chair in 2026.
He said the summit theme – “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability” – speaks to the realities confronting developing countries and collective aspiration for a fairer and more inclusive international order.
“For Nigeria, resilience means building an economy capable of withstanding global shocks while creating sustainable opportunities for our people. This is embedded in our Renewed Hope Agenda,” Shettima said.
He listed the agenda’s pillars as strengthening macroeconomic stability, diversifying production, raising productivity, expanding infrastructure and human capital, attracting investment, promoting private sector-led growth, and deepening climate resilience.
Shettima welcomed BRICS cooperation in trade, agriculture, food security, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, and critical minerals — especially partnerships that advance technology transfer, local value addition, industrial capacity, and employment.
He said Nigeria supports rules-based multilateral trade, e-commerce, and digital trade, and invited BRICS investors to view Nigeria as a gateway to Africa’s market under the AfCFTA, whose Protocol on Digital Trade Nigeria is championing.
With a population of 250 million and average age of 16.9, Shettima said Nigeria’s greatest asset is its young population, noting investments in digital skills, entrepreneurship, research and AI through 3MTT, Project Bridge, and national AI programs.
“We welcome BRICS cooperation in AI, digital public infrastructure, fintech, telecommunications, cybersecurity, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing — because developing countries must produce technology, create knowledge, and own intellectual property. A nation that does not own technology risks renting its future,” he said.
On sustainability, he said Nigeria balances climate action with economic aspirations and supports affordable climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building for Africa.
Shettima also called for reform of global governance, including the UN Security Council and international financial system, saying BRICS amplifies the voice of the Global South.
“Nigeria calls for a BRICS partnership that moves from dialogue to delivery, from commitments to implementation, and from cooperation to measurable development outcomes,” he said.
“Our partnerships must create jobs, expand trade, transfer technology, and strengthen productive capacity. We must build a future in which Africa moves from the margins of global development to the frontiers of global growth and innovation. Nigeria is ready to play its part.”
