At the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu made a strong appeal for a more equitable global governance structure, calling on BRICS nations to spearhead inclusive development and justice for emerging economies, particularly in Africa.
Representing Nigeria as one of BRICS’ newly inducted partner countries, Tinubu emphasized the urgent need for reforms in global finance, healthcare systems, and climate action frameworks.
“Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” he said, highlighting the continent’s disproportionate exposure to environmental challenges.
Tinubu affirmed Nigeria’s active role in advancing climate solutions through initiatives such as the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall. He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to “accelerate renewable energy adoption, promote nature-based solutions, strengthen urban resilience, and achieve universal health coverage.”
He also stressed that Nigeria’s position aligns with BRICS’ shared values of solidarity and sustainability, adding, “The next issues are financial restructuring and reevaluation of the global structure.”
With the 2025 COP-30 climate summit approaching, Tinubu said Nigeria expects BRICS to evolve beyond economic cooperation and become a “beacon for emerging solutions rooted in self-reliance and shared prosperity.”
The Nigerian president’s remarks also focused on youth and future planning: “We must be the architects of a future that addresses the specific needs and concerns of youths, who represent 70 percent of our population in Nigeria.”
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva formally welcomed Nigeria to BRICS’ growing list of partner countries earlier this year, recognizing its strategic importance in Africa and the Global South.
As BRICS continues to expand, Tinubu’s message was clear: without justice in global systems, sustainable development will remain out of reach for the world’s most vulnerable populations.
