Rio de Janeiro, July 6–7, 2025 — Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu used his address at the 17th BRICS Summit to urge a significant overhaul of global governance, finance, and healthcare systems to better serve low‑income and emerging economies—particularly those in Africa.
Tinubu emphasized that environmental degradation, climate change, and unequal access to healthcare are key factors impeding development. “Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” he said, stressing the need for policies rooted in fairness, green technology transfers, and accessible financing.
As a newly appointed BRICS partner country—Nigeria, along with Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan—has aligned its stance with the bloc’s call for collective, equitable global development.
Highlighting regional initiatives like the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall, Tinubu expressed hope that progress would be bolstered after COP‑30. He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to its Vision 2050, which includes accelerating renewable energy, climate action, nature‑based solutions, urban resilience, and universal health coverage.
Tinubu called on BRICS to evolve into a “beacon for emerging solutions and resolutions rooted in solidarity, self‑reliance, sustainability, and shared prosperity.” He emphasized the importance of addressing non‑communicable diseases, and insisted that emerging economies must lead, not just participate, in future global decision‑making on finance, debt relief, climate, and healthcare.
Accompanied by Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar and Finance Minister Wale Edun, Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s active engagement in South‑South cooperation and reform of global governance—priorities under Brazil’s BRICS presidency.
