The Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu called for rewriting the rules of global governance and international finance at the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sunday.
The remarks, delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima, came from a State House press release issued by Stanley Nkwocha.
Tinubu positioned Nigeria as a gateway to Africa’s expanding market under the African Continental Free Trade Area. He sought deeper BRICS ties in AI, digital infrastructure, fintech, cybersecurity and critical minerals.
“Nigeria supports a more representative, equitable and responsive global governance architecture, including reform of the United Nations Security Council and the international financial system,” the president said.
BRICS now comprises 11 members representing nearly 50% of the world’s population and about 40% of global GDP. The two-day summit, themed “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” ended with the New Delhi Declaration.
Nigeria, a BRICS partner country, invited investors to leverage its youthful population and reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Trade with India previously stood near $14 billion, with both sides seeking expansion.
Tinubu stressed technology ownership. “A nation that owns no technology risks renting its future,” he stated, highlighting Project BRIDGE and national AI programmes.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Shettima on the sidelines and opened the summit by noting growing Global South confidence in BRICS. The bloc aims to shift from dialogue to measurable development outcomes in trade, energy and infrastructure.
