By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Federal Government has explained why it did not hesitate to accept an invitation extended to it by Brazil to join BRICS as a partner country.
Accepting the invitation on behalf of Nigeria, the ministry of foreign affairs maintained that the partnership will help to boost Nigeria’s aspirations for inclusive growth and regional integration “in line with the best practices of strategic autonomy”.
The acting spokesperson for the ministry of foreign affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed the reason for accepting the invitation in a statement on Saturday.
“BRICS, as a collective of major emerging economies, presents a unique platform for Nigeria to enhance trade, investment, and socio-economic cooperation with member countries,” the statement reads.
The ministry said the formal acceptance highlights Nigeria’s commitment to “fostering international collaboration, leveraging economic opportunities, and advancing strategic partnerships”.
“Nigeria aims to use this partnership to advance shared goals in areas such as trade and investment, energy security, infrastructure development, technology, and climate change.”
The foreign affairs ministry said the partnership aligns with Nigeria’s national aspirations for inclusive growth, regional integration, and active participation in shaping a fair and equitable global economic order, “consistent with the country’s ethos of strategic autonomy”.
The ministry said it hopes to engage constructively with BRICS members to drive innovation and foster people-to-people exchanges that align with national interests and strategic priorities.
