The Brazilian government has officially announced the inclusion of Nigeria as a partner country in the BRICS bloc, a significant step towards strengthening ties between Global South nations.
The announcement was made in a statement from Brazil’s Foreign Ministry.
Brazil highlighted that Nigeria’s inclusion aligns with shared goals between BRICS and Nigeria, particularly in fostering cooperation among developing countries and advocating for reforms in international institutions.
“Nigeria, with the world’s sixth-largest population and Africa’s largest, is a key player in the continent’s economy. The country’s active role in enhancing South-South cooperation and pushing for global governance reform aligns with BRICS’ core priorities during Brazil’s presidency,” the statement read.
Brazil assumed the BRICS presidency for 2025, succeeding Russia on January 1.
Nigeria joins eight other countries—Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan—as a partner in the BRICS bloc, a category created at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024.