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BRICS Summit, Tinubu Pushes for Equality in Global Finance, Health Systems
President Bola Tinubu has called for a fundamental reevaluation of the global governance, financial, and healthcare systems to ensure equity and inclusion for low-income and emerging economies—particularly in Africa.
Speaking at the 17th BRICS Summit on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, President Tinubu stated that issues such as environmental degradation, climate change, and global health disparities must be prioritized, as they continue to hinder sustainable development and growth in the Global South.
“Nigeria strongly believes in South-South cooperation, we can, therefore, not be passive participants in global decision-making on financial restructuring, debt forgiveness, climate change, environmental issues, and healthcare” he said.
President Tinubu was invited to the summit by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Nigeria formally joined BRICS as a partner country in January 2025, becoming one of nine new partner nations including Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The partner country category was created during the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia in October 2024.
Tinubu said Nigeria aligns with the BRICS agenda for collective and equitable global development. “The next issues are financial restructuring and reevaluation of the global structure,” he declared, noting that “Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most.”
He further called for fair and accessible financing, sustainable technology transfer, and strategic collaborations that empower emerging economies to benefit from climate and health initiatives. According to him, Nigeria is already taking proactive steps through the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall, while aiming to achieve universal health coverage and energy transition goals.
President Tinubu also emphasized the importance of addressing non-communicable diseases and strengthening global health systems.
“As we approach COP-30, we believe that BRICS must not only be a bloc for emerging economies but also a beacon for emerging solutions rooted in solidarity, self-reliance, and shared prosperity,” he stated.
He underscored that Nigeria’s development strategy is guided by its Vision 2050 framework and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which emphasize renewable energy adoption, nature-based solutions, and youth inclusion—especially as over 70% of Nigeria’s population is under the age of 30.
While reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive global development, Tinubu noted: “We must be the architects of a future that addresses the specific needs and concerns of our youth.”
The President was accompanied to the summit by Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance. As Africa’s most populous nation and one of its leading economies, Nigeria’s participation is seen as a strategic addition to the BRICS platform, which aims to expand global multipolar engagement and reform international institutions.
Nigeria has pledged to support reforms of multilateral bodies including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the United Nations Security Council to better reflect contemporary global realities.
In a statement issued after the summit, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to work with BRICS members in advancing sustainable, equitable, and people-focused development.
“Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to strategic collaboration that translates into sustainable and inclusive development for all,” Onanuga said.
