Vice-President Kashim Shettima has arrived in New Delhi, India, to attend the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit.

Stanley Nkwocha, the vice-president’s spokesman, said in a statement on Friday that Mr Shettima would represent President Bola Tinubu at the summit.

The summit is being held under the theme: “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

The delegation includes Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Dr Bosun Tijani; and Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal, among others. 

Ms Odumegwu-Ojukwu, speaking ahead of the summit, said Nigeria will explore new partnerships and opportunities in agriculture, technology, artificial intelligence, trade, the digital economy and other critical sectors.

She said Nigeria also intends to draw lessons from India’s experience in deploying technology and artificial intelligence to create opportunities for its large youth population.

“India is firm in its expertise in agriculture and, of course, even in the digital economy. In fact, prior to this, we had a session dealing with women in the digital economy and artificial intelligence, and we are leveraging India’s greatest strength, which is in the engagement of its youth population,” the minister said.

Ms Oduwole, on her part, said Mr Tinubu’s administration is working to deepen Nigeria’s trade relationship with India, which she noted had previously stood at about $14 billion.

“And so, deepening those relationships will further strengthen the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. 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,” she said.

Mr Shettima will join leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, as well as invited international organisations, for high-level discussions on inclusive global growth, resilience, innovation and sustainable development.

The vice-president is also expected to participate in bilateral engagements to advance Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic interests, particularly in trade, investment, agriculture, technology, industrial development, and other areas of mutual benefit.

Nigeria became a BRICS partner country in January 2025 and has since engaged the platform to strengthen South-South cooperation and broaden its relations with major emerging economies.

The Nigerian delegation will also participate in the BRICS open session and other activities scheduled on the sidelines of the summit.