President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday returned to Nigeria following a high-level diplomatic mission to Saint Lucia and Brazil, where he reinforced Nigeria’s international engagement agenda and made a compelling case for structural reforms in global governance during his first-ever appearance at the BRICS Summit.
The President’s first stop was in Saint Lucia, a Caribbean island nation, in what the Presidency described as “part of efforts to deepen Nigeria’s engagement with Caribbean nations and the African diaspora.”
During his stay, President Tinubu addressed a special joint session of Saint Lucia’s Parliament, where he emphasized shared heritage and economic potential between Africa and the Caribbean.
In recognition of his efforts to foster international solidarity, he was awarded the Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL)—the country’s highest national honor.
From Saint Lucia, Tinubu traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the 17th BRICS Summit of the Global South and Emerging Economies. Nigeria participated for the first time as a formal partner of BRICS, having joined the bloc in January 2025, along with Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. This new category was introduced at the 2024 Kazan Summit to widen the bloc’s influence and engagement.
At the summit, President Tinubu delivered a forceful call for equitable global reforms, focusing on the financial system, climate justice, and healthcare infrastructure.
“The next issues are financial restructuring and reevaluation of the global structure,” Tinubu stated. “Nigeria associates with what I have heard today and all that has happened in BRICS.”
He criticized the current global governance frameworks for sidelining developing nations and spotlighted Africa’s vulnerability to climate change, despite its negligible contribution to global emissions.
“Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” he observed, calling for climate justice.
The President highlighted Nigeria’s progress in environmental stewardship through initiatives like the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall Project, aimed at combating desertification and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
He also emphasized plans to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, mainstream climate action in policy making, promote nature-based solutions, improve urban resilience and expand access to universal health coverage.
On health, Tinubu stressed the importance of tackling non-communicable diseases and strengthening healthcare systems, urging BRICS to become a “beacon for emerging solutions rooted in solidarity, self-reliance, and shared prosperity.”
Closing his BRICS address, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s long-term development priorities under Vision 2050, committing to strengthening South-South cooperation, positioning Nigeria as a bridge between Africa and emerging economies worldwide.
Dr. Ifeanyi Nwosu, a global development scholar, hailed the tour as a “strategic expansion of Nigeria’s multilateral footprint.”
“This isn’t just symbolic. Nigeria is beginning to position itself where key conversations on global finance, health, and environment are taking place,” he said.
Dr. Amina Abubakar, an international relations analyst, praised Tinubu’s advocacy for climate justice.
“For a continent often left behind in climate negotiations, Tinubu’s emphasis on Africa’s plight at BRICS is a welcome assertion of leadership,” she noted.