President Bola Tinubu has made a compelling appeal for a more just and inclusive global order, urging the BRICS bloc to lead efforts to reform the world’s climate, financial, and healthcare systems in favour of emerging economies.
Speaking at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the Nigerian leader emphasised the urgent need for structural changes that empower the Global South. “Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” he told the gathering, calling for a new model rooted in justice, equity, and sustainable development.
Tinubu said Nigeria was taking “bold steps” to transition to renewable energy, tackle environmental degradation, and achieve universal health coverage, aligning its domestic agenda with global sustainability goals.
“We are mainstreaming climate action, promoting nature-based solutions, strengthening urban resilience, and advancing South-South cooperation,” he said. “We cannot remain passive participants in the decisions that shape our destiny.”
The summit, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, comes amid growing calls for a shake-up of international institutions that many in the Global South view as outdated and unrepresentative. Tinubu’s message echoed these concerns, urging the BRICS grouping—now expanded to include Nigeria and eight other partner countries—to drive collective reforms.
The Nigerian president argued that current global structures are failing to address intersecting crises—from climate shocks to pandemic recovery—leaving lower-income nations to bear the brunt without adequate support.
“We must confront healthcare inequality and non-communicable diseases as shared global challenges. BRICS must not only be a bloc of emerging economies but a beacon for emerging solutions rooted in solidarity and sustainability,” he said.
He pointed to homegrown initiatives like the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall as examples of Africa’s commitment to environmental action, adding that Nigeria was guided by a long-term development plan anchored in its Vision 2050 framework.
Tinubu also called attention to the continent’s youth population, noting that 70 per cent of Nigerians are under the age of 30. “Our future must be built with them in mind,” he said.
The 17th summit is the first since BRICS formally created the “partner country” category at its October 2024 meeting in Kazan, Russia. Nigeria’s admission, formalised by Brazil in January 2025, marks a significant diplomatic step for Africa’s most populous nation.
Brazil’s foreign ministry described Nigeria as a “key player” in South-South cooperation and global governance reform—two priorities of its BRICS presidency.
Accompanying Tinubu to the summit were Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar and Finance Minister Wale Edun. The delegation’s message was clear: Nigeria seeks to not only participate in global debates but help reshape them.
“BRICS must lead the way in reimagining a world where development is inclusive, sustainable, and just,” Tinubu concluded.
