Brazil announces Nigeria’s admission as BRICS partner country

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Young men walk past Coventry University Library as they leave a campus building at the beginning of the new academic year, at Coventry University, in Coventry, central England on September 23, 2020. - Poring over her books in the library at Coventry University, far from her home in Equatorial Guinea, Agnes Genoveva Cheba Ade is determined to keep up her studies despite coronavirus restrictions. She admits that it has not been easy being abroad during a pandemic, with many courses moved online and socialising restricted -- many other overseas students have been put off entirely. But, like others in Britain, Coventry University in central England is confident it will weather the storm of Covid-19 and maintain its foreign students, who are a crucial source of income. (Photo by OLI SCARFF / AFP)

Brazil has officially announced Nigeria’s admission as a partner country in the BRICS alliance.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry made the announcement, welcoming the Nigerian government’s decision to join the group.

“The Brazilian government welcomes the Nigerian government’s decision,” the statement said, marking an important development for both countries.

The BRICS alliance, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has been expanding as more countries expressed interest in joining the group of leading emerging economies. The creation of a partner-country category was introduced at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024, and during the summit, reports indicated that Nigeria had been accepted as a partner country.

Eche Abu-Obe, the then-spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had also highlighted Nigeria’s acceptance into the BRICS partnership.

With this announcement, Nigeria becomes the ninth partner country of BRICS, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry noted that Nigeria, with the world’s sixth-largest population and Africa’s largest, as well as being one of the continent’s major economies, shares common interests with the other BRICS members.

“Nigeria plays an active role in strengthening South-South cooperation and in reforming global governance—issues that are top priorities during Brazil’s current presidency,” the statement added.

Nigeria has continued to advocate for full membership in the BRICS alliance, with hopes that its new partnership status will pave the way for deeper engagement in the future.

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