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, an alliance comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Naijaonpoint reports that his aircraft touched down at the Galeão Air Force Base at exactly 8:45 pm local time on Friday, where he was received with a Guard of Honour coordinated by the base commander.
According to a statement released on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu was received by Brazil’s Deputy Minister for Africa and the Middle East, Carlos Sergio Sobral Duarte, and the Deputy Minister for Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation, and Culture.
President Tinubu is in Brazil at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and is expected to participate in a high-level bilateral meeting hosted by Lula on Saturday, July 5, ahead of the BRICS Summit, which is scheduled for July 6 and 7.
At the summit, Tinubu will join other leaders from the Global South to deliberate on this year’s theme: “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.”
He is also scheduled to deliver an address highlighting Nigeria’s bold economic reforms aimed at positioning the country for increased global competitiveness.
Discussions at the summit will focus on critical global issues, including healthcare, Artificial Intelligence (AI), climate change, and the need for fairer global governance structures. Political negotiators from the bloc have already met to refine proposals for AI governance, climate finance, and addressing socially determined diseases, particularly in regions of the Global South.
Beyond the summit sessions, President Tinubu will also hold strategic meetings with international investors to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into Nigeria’s key sectors, including agriculture, solid minerals, healthcare, and renewable energy.
Several Nigerian governors are accompanying the President on this trip. They include Governor Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger).