President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for a thorough overhaul of global governance, financial, and healthcare systems, advocating for more equitable and inclusive policies that prioritise the needs of low-income and emerging economies, particularly in Africa.
Speaking on Saturday, July 6, 2025, at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tinubu warned that critical global challenges—including climate change, environmental degradation, and widening healthcare inequalities—are hampering development and must be tackled through collaborative and justice-oriented strategies.
Invited by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Tinubu represented Nigeria at the annual summit of the BRICS bloc—comprising key Global South and emerging economies—where he pledged Nigeria’s support for the group’s mission of inclusive global development.
“Nigeria, therefore, associates with what I have heard today and all that has happened in BRICS. The next issues are financial restructuring and reevaluation of the global structure,” Tinubu said, emphasising the urgency of reforming international systems that continue to disadvantage developing nations.
This year’s summit marked Nigeria’s first participation as an official BRICS partner country, following its admission in January 2025 alongside Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The new partner-country category was introduced during the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.
Highlighting Africa’s vulnerability to climate change, Tinubu noted, “Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most.” He urged world leaders to chart a “new path of justice” anchored on sustainable technology transfer, climate financing, and inclusive decision-making.
He cited the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall as key continental responses to climate challenges and expressed hope that the upcoming COP-30 climate conference would amplify global action for environmental sustainability.
At home, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to its 2050 long-term development vision and climate goals. He said the country is accelerating renewable energy adoption, embedding climate action into national planning, promoting nature-based solutions, and enhancing urban resilience, all while pursuing universal health coverage and stronger South-South collaboration.
“Nigeria strongly believes in South-South cooperation. We can, therefore, not be passive participants in global decision-making on financial restructuring, debt forgiveness, climate change, environmental issues, and healthcare,” he stated.
The President also raised concerns over the rising burden of non-communicable diseases and called for BRICS to evolve beyond an economic alliance into a symbol of solidarity, innovation, and people-centred solutions.
“As we approach COP-30 and seek to strengthen the global health system, we believe BRICS must not only be a bloc for emerging economies but also a beacon for emerging solutions and resolutions—rooted in solidarity, self-reliance, sustainability, and shared prosperity,” he added.
President Tinubu was accompanied to the summit by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun.
Nigeria’s inclusion in BRICS as a partner country was formally announced on January 17, 2025, by Brazil, which currently holds the group’s rotating presidency. As Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, Nigeria is expected to play a key role in advancing South-South cooperation and championing reforms in global governance—both priority areas under Brazil’s leadership.
