- Safiu Kehinde
Nigeria has joined Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) Intergovernmental organization as a partner country.
This was announced in a statement issued on Saturday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Acting Spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa.
According to the statement, the Federal Government accepted BRICS invitation as part of Nigeria’s commitment to fostering international collaboration, leveraging economic opportunities, and advancing strategic partnerships that align with the country’s development objectives.
Kimiebi stated that the partnership with BRICS presents a unique platform for Nigeria to enhance trade, investment, and socio-economic cooperation with member countries.
He held that it aligned with Nigeria’s aspirations for inclusive growth, regional integration, and active participation in shaping a fair and equitable global economic order,
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has accepted the invitation to join BRICS as a partner country. The formal acceptance to participate as a partner country underscores Nigeria’s commitment to fostering international collaboration, leveraging economic opportunities, and advancing strategic partnerships that align with Nigeria’s development objectives.
“BRICS, as a collective of major emerging economies, presents a unique platform for Nigeria to enhance trade, investment, and socio-economic cooperation with member countries.
“Nigeria is poised to leverage this platform to advance shared goals in trade and investment, energy security, infrastructure development, technology, and climate change. This partnership also aligns with our national aspirations for inclusive growth, regional integration, and active participation in shaping a fair and equitable global economic order in line with our ethos of strategic autonomy.
“Nigeria looks forward to engaging constructively with BRICS members to drive innovation, foster people-to-people exchanges in line with our national interests and strategic priorities.” The statement read.
As announced in a statement issued by the Brazilian government on Friday, Nigeria becomes the ninth partner country of BRICS, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
This partner-country category was created at the 16th BRICS Summit, held in Kazan in October 2024.