BRICS Summit 2026: VP Shettima Arrives in India to Boost Nigeria’s Trade, AI, and Economic Alliances
NEW DELHI, INDIA — Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in New Delhi to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit.
Operating under the 2026 theme, “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability,” the summit serves as a critical launchpad for Nigeria to expand its trade frontiers, attract foreign direct investments, and solidify alliances with major emerging global economies.
Nigeria officially joined the bloc as a BRICS partner country in January 2025. This year’s summit marks a pivotal moment for the nation to advance its South-South cooperation strategies.
Key Highlights of Nigeria’s Agenda
Trade expansion is major for Nigeria as the country hopes to revitalize historical trade corridors, particularly a $14 billion bilateral relationship with India.
Nigeria also hopes to leverage India’s massive success in digital infrastructure by building collaboration in tech and Tem AI.
A robust ministerial team spanning foreign affairs, trade, the digital economy, and environment are on the presidential delegation.
Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, emphasized that Nigeria is aggressively targeting strategic partnerships in agriculture, artificial intelligence (AI), and the digital economy.
“India is firm in its expertise in agriculture and, of course, even in the digital economy,” Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated. “Prior to this, we had a session dealing with women in the digital economy and artificial intelligence. We are leveraging on India’s greatest strength, which is in the engagement of its youth population.”
Reviving a $14 Billion Trade Relationship
The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, revealed that the Tinubu administration is heavily focused on expanding commerce. Indian investors have already expressed strong interest in holding high-stakes meetings with the Nigerian delegation. “Deepening those relationships will further strengthen the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration,” Dr. Oduwole noted. “India used to buy Nigerian oil quite a lot, so we are looking at how to expand that with everything going on in the world.”
Vice President Shettima is leading a lean, impact-driven delegation of key cabinet members to ensure cross-sectoral wins.
He is scheduled to join heads of state from BRICS member and partner countries, alongside leaders of international organizations, for the central open sessions on global growth.Beyond the plenary sessions, the vice president will spearhead a series of bilateral diplomatic engagements designed to secure immediate investment commitments in Nigeria’s industrial development, technology sectors, and sustainable agriculture.
