Vice President Kashim Shettima will represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India, where Nigeria is expected to seek stronger economic and diplomatic ties with major international partners.

The summit, scheduled for this weekend at Bharat Mandapam, will bring together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries to discuss global economic growth, multilateral cooperation and shared development priorities.

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, announced Shettima’s participation in a statement on Friday.

According to the Presidency, Nigeria will use the summit to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in trade and investment, energy, agriculture, solid minerals, technology and innovation.

Shettima is also expected to promote greater cooperation among countries of the Global South and hold bilateral meetings with leaders and senior officials from participating countries.

India’s 2026 BRICS chairship is built around the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” Discussions are expected to cover political and security cooperation, economic and financial partnerships, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Nigeria became a BRICS partner country in January 2025, providing an additional platform for engagement with major emerging economies on trade, investment, development finance and reforms to global governance institutions.

The Presidency said Nigeria’s participation aligns with Tinubu’s efforts to expand international economic partnerships, attract investment and create new markets for Nigerian goods, particularly as the administration pursues economic diversification.

The summit comes as BRICS marks 20 years since its establishment and seeks to deepen practical cooperation among its expanding membership and network of partner countries.

Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria shortly after the summit.