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Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in New Delhi, India, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit
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Shettima is leading a high-level Nigerian delegation to the summit, where the country is expected to pursue stronger cooperation in agriculture, technology, artificial intelligence, industrial development, trade and the digital economy.
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Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu says Nigeria is particularly interested in India’s experience in using technology and artificial intelligence to harness its large youth population and create new economic opportunities.
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Industry, Trade and Investment Minister Jumoke Oduwole says Nigeria is seeking to deepen its roughly $14 billion trade relationship with India,
September 11, (THEWILL) – Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in New Delhi, India, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, taking Nigeria’s economic diplomacy drive to a major platform of emerging economies.
Shettima is leading a high-level Nigerian delegation to the summit, with the Federal Government seeking to use the BRICS partnership to expand trade, attract investment and deepen Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic relations with member and partner countries.
The summit, themed “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” brings together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, as well as representatives of invited international organisations.
A statement signed on Friday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, said Shettima’s participation forms part of Nigeria’s efforts to deepen bilateral relations, expand trade and investment opportunities and strengthen cooperation with countries within the BRICS framework.
The Vice President’s 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 other senior officials.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria would use the gathering to explore fresh partnerships and opportunities in agriculture, technology, artificial intelligence, trade, the digital economy and other critical sectors.
She said Nigeria was particularly interested in learning from India’s experience in deploying 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, before this, we had a session dealing with women in the digital economy and artificial intelligence, and we are leveraging India’s greatest strength, which is in the engagement of its youth population,” she said.
The economic relationship between Nigeria and India is also expected to feature prominently in the Nigerian delegation’s engagements.
Oduwole said Nigeria was working to deepen its trade relationship with India, which she said had previously stood at about $14 billion.
She disclosed that major investors of Indian origin had indicated interest in meeting the Nigerian delegation during the summit.
According to the minister, Nigeria also maintains significant trade relationships with several other BRICS countries, making the summit an important opportunity to strengthen existing commercial links and seek new markets and investment.
She said deeper relationships would support the economic objectives of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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“And so, deepening those relationships will further strengthen the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. 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,” Oduwole said.
The government’s focus on oil comes against the backdrop of its wider push to expand Nigeria’s export markets and secure stronger demand for the country’s major revenue-generating commodity.
Beyond crude oil, the Federal Government is also seeking to expand commercial opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, technology, digital services and other sectors capable of supporting economic diversification.
Shettima To Hold Bilateral Engagements
At the summit, Shettima will join other leaders for high-level deliberations on inclusive global growth, resilience, innovation and sustainable development.
He is also scheduled to hold bilateral engagements aimed at advancing Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic interests, particularly in trade, investment, agriculture, technology and industrial development.
The Nigerian delegation will participate in the BRICS open session and other activities on the sidelines of the summit.
The meetings are expected to provide an avenue for the Federal Government to engage governments, investors and other stakeholders on opportunities available in Nigeria.
The administration is seeking to use such engagements to attract foreign direct investment, expand markets for Nigerian products, encourage technology transfer and strengthen industrial capacity.
Strengthening South-South Cooperation
Nigeria’s participation in the summit is also part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to strengthen South-South cooperation and diversify its international economic relationships.
Nigeria became a BRICS partner country in January 2025, allowing it to engage more closely with the grouping and its member and partner countries.
While partner status is distinct from full membership, it provides Nigeria with an additional platform for cooperation with major emerging economies on trade, investment, technology, development and other areas of mutual interest.
BRICS has expanded significantly from its original membership and has become an important platform for emerging economies seeking stronger cooperation and a greater role in global economic affairs.
For Nigeria, engagement with the bloc offers opportunities to strengthen relations with countries possessing significant markets, capital, technological expertise, and industrial capacity.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
