Nigeria’s Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, is set to travel to Brazil to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 17th BRICS Summit, as the president continues his overseas leave.
The summit, scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro, brings together leaders and representatives of major emerging economies and is expected to focus on issues including global governance, economic cooperation, trade and development.
Shettima’s trip comes amid President Tinubu’s ongoing stay abroad, following the commencement of his annual leave.
The Vice-President is expected to use the summit to advance Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic interests, while highlighting the country’s position on greater cooperation among developing economies.
Nigeria became a BRICS partner country in January 2025, a move that strengthened its engagement with the bloc and expanded opportunities for cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure, technology and development.
Shettima’s participation is also expected to provide an opportunity for Nigeria to engage with other member and partner countries on investment prospects and initiatives aimed at strengthening ties between the Global South.
The Vice-President’s latest foreign trip adds to a series of international engagements undertaken on behalf of President Tinubu, who has increasingly relied on his deputy to represent Nigeria at major diplomatic and multilateral events.
With Tinubu currently away from the country, Shettima’s representation at the BRICS summit will also place him at the centre of Nigeria’s engagement with one of the world’s expanding multilateral groupings.
