ABUJA — Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to depart Nigeria for New Delhi, India, where he will represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit scheduled to take place this weekend.

The summit, to be held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, will bring together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, as well as invited dignitaries, for discussions on global economic growth, multilateral cooperation and shared development priorities.

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According to a statement issued on Friday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Nigeria will use the summit to pursue deeper economic and diplomatic relations with key international partners.

The Presidency said Nigeria’s participation would focus on strengthening bilateral relations, expanding economic cooperation and advancing the country’s strategic interests in areas including trade and investment, energy, agriculture, solid minerals, technology and innovation.

Shettima is expected to participate in plenary and high-level sessions alongside leaders of BRICS member and partner countries. He will also hold bilateral meetings with leaders and senior officials from participating countries.

The bilateral engagements are expected to explore opportunities for expanded economic and diplomatic cooperation, including increased investment, trade partnerships and collaboration in strategic sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Nigeria is also expected to use the summit to promote greater cooperation among countries of the Global South, particularly in areas of development, trade, investment and economic transformation.

India, which holds the 2026 BRICS Chairship, has adopted the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” Discussions at the summit are expected to cover political and security cooperation, economic and financial partnerships, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Nigeria became a BRICS partner country in January 2025, giving the country another platform to deepen South-South cooperation and engage with some of the world’s major emerging economies.

The Presidency said the partnership provides opportunities for Nigeria to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, development finance and the reform of global governance institutions.

Particular attention is expected to be given to agriculture, energy, solid minerals and other non-oil sectors as the Tinubu administration continues to pursue economic diversification and reduce dependence on oil.

The government also sees the BRICS platform as an avenue to attract foreign investment, expand markets for Nigerian products and strengthen economic partnerships with emerging economies.

The summit comes as BRICS marks two decades since its establishment and continues to expand its network of member and partner countries.

The Presidency said Nigeria’s participation in the high-level meeting aligns with President Tinubu’s broader foreign policy and economic agenda of strengthening international partnerships, attracting investment and creating additional opportunities for Nigerian businesses and products in global markets.