Adedokun Waliyu 
Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India.
During the visit, Vice President Shettima participated in the summit’s high-level sessions and held bilateral engagements aimed at advancing Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic interests, according to a statement released by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, on Tuesday.
Among the key engagements was a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where both sides discussed renewed crude oil trade, investment, pharmaceuticals, defence, digital technology, fintech, renewable energy and other strategic sectors.
Shettima also met with the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, reaffirming Nigeria’s support for multilateralism and a more inclusive global economic order.
At the summit, the Vice President delivered President Tinubu’s message calling for reforms of global governance and financial institutions, while positioning Nigeria as a gateway to Africa’s expanding market under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Nigeria also used the summit to deepen its engagement with BRICS member and partner countries in agriculture, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, energy and human-capital development.
