Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in New Delhi, India, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit as Nigeria seeks to deepen trade, investment and technology partnerships with India and other member and partner countries of the bloc.
Shettima is leading a high-level Nigerian delegation to the summit, which is being held under the theme, “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The delegation includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani; and Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, among others.
Ahead of the summit, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria would use the engagement to explore new partnerships and opportunities in agriculture, technology, artificial intelligence, trade and the digital economy.
The minister said Nigeria was particularly interested in learning from India’s experience in using technology and artificial intelligence to create opportunities for its large youth population.
“India is firm in its expertise in agriculture and, of course, even in the digital economy. In fact, prior to this, we had a session dealing with women in the digital economy and artificial intelligence, and we are leveraging on India’s greatest strength, which is in the engagement of its youth population,” she said.
Also speaking, Oduwole said the Federal Government was working to deepen Nigeria’s trade relationship with India, which she said had previously reached about $14bn.
She disclosed that major investors of Indian origin had indicated interest in meeting with the Nigerian delegation, while noting that Nigeria also maintained important trade relationships with several BRICS countries.
The minister said strengthening those relationships would support the economic objectives of the Tinubu administration, particularly by expanding trade and investment opportunities.
“And so, deepening those relationships will further strengthen the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration,” Oduwole said.
She also said Nigeria was exploring ways to expand its oil trade with India, recalling the country’s previous role as a major buyer of Nigerian crude.
“India used to buy Nigerian oil quite a lot, so we are looking at how to expand that with everything going on in the world,” she said.
At the summit, Shettima is expected to join leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, as well as representatives of invited international organisations, for high-level discussions on inclusive global growth, resilience, innovation and sustainable development.
The Vice President will also hold bilateral engagements aimed at advancing Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic interests, particularly in trade, investment, agriculture, technology and industrial development.
Nigeria became a BRICS partner country in January 2025 and has since used the platform as part of its efforts to strengthen South-South cooperation and expand relations with major emerging economies.
The Nigerian delegation will also participate in the BRICS open session and other activities scheduled on the sidelines of the summit.
