Brazil’s government said yesterday, Friday that Nigeria has been accepted as a partner country in the multinational BRICS group. This adds Africa’s largest economy to the growing alliance of emerging market countries.
Brazil, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the bloc has described Nigeria as having converging interests with other members of the group.
Nigeria becomes the ninth BRICS partner, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
BRICS now represents over half the world’s population and more than 45 per cent of global GDP, indicating its growing clout on the international stage. The Brazilian government said Nigeria has been actively strengthening cooperation in the Global South and reforming global governance, a key priority for Brazil. It added that as one of the world’s top oil producers, the African country brings significant economic weight to the group.
The partnership status allows Nigeria to participate in BRICS meetings and events, but does not grant full membership privileges like voting rights.
What could this mean for Africa and the power that Western powers have had over some of the African countries?
