President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to attend the 17th BRICS Summit of Heads of State and Government, a gathering of leaders from major emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

According to a statement released on Saturday by the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s plane touched down at the Galeao Air Force Base at 8:45 pm local time on Friday, where he was received with a guard of honour.

He was welcomed by Brazil’s deputy minister for Africa and the Middle East, Ambassador Carlos Sergio Sobral Duarte and the deputy minister for trade promotion, science, technology, innovation and culture.

The statement noted that Tinubu is in Brazil at the invitation of President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva and will participate in a bilateral meeting hosted by the Brazilian leader on Saturday, ahead of the official summit scheduled for Sunday and Monday.

“At the BRICS Summit, the President will participate in a plenary session and deliver an address on Nigeria’s ongoing reforms to reposition the economy for global competitiveness,” Onanuga stated.

He added that Tinubu “will also attract investors to capitalise on the country’s opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, healthcare, and alternative energy.”

The summit, themed “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”, will focus on critical issues including health, artificial intelligence, governance, and climate change.

Ahead of the leaders’ gathering, BRICS political negotiators met to fine-tune strategies for tackling structural challenges in the Global South, including stronger commitments on AI governance, climate finance and addressing socially determined diseases.

Tinubu is accompanied by five state governors: Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Mohammed Bago (Niger).

The Nigerian president is expected to use his address to pitch Nigeria’s economic reforms and development agenda to a global audience of leaders and investors.