Shettima Calls for Global Governance Overhaul at 2026 BRICS Summit in India
Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking for President Bola Tinubu at the 2026 BRICS Summit in India, urged an urgent overhaul of global governance structures and international financial institutions, calling for a more representative, equitable and responsive architecture that includes reform of the United Nations Security Council. He said Nigeria supports BRICS’ goal of amplifying the Global South’s voice and urged the bloc to move from dialogue to delivery, from commitments to implementation, and from cooperation to measurable development outcomes.
Shettima highlighted Nigeria’s young and dynamic population as a key asset, pointing to initiatives such as 3MTT, Project BRIDGE and national AI programmes as evidence of the country’s innovation agenda. He invited BRICS partners to view Nigeria as a gateway to Africa’s expanding market under the African Continental Free Trade Area and welcomed cooperation in trade, agriculture, food security, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, critical minerals, digital skills, entrepreneurship, research, artificial intelligence, technology‑enabled businesses, digital public infrastructure, fintech, telecommunications, cybersecurity, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.
He stressed that partnerships must create jobs, expand trade, transfer technology and strengthen productive capacity, helping Africa shift from the margins to the frontiers of global growth and innovation.
Will Nigeria’s push for a reformed global order bring real investment and technology transfer to its citizens, or will it remain largely diplomatic talk?