Just five days after returning from Saudi Arabia, President Bola Tinubu has now arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he will participate in the 19th Heads of State and Government Summit of the G20.
The Nigerian leader touched down at 11:03 p.m. local time on Sunday (3:03 a.m. Monday, Nigerian time), where he was greeted by Brazilian officials, including Ambassador Breno Costa from Brazil’s Ministry of External Relations.
Accompanying President Tinubu on this high-profile trip are several key ministers: Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development; and Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Tourism, Culture, and Creativity. Together, they will represent Nigeria’s interests and ambitions at the G20 summit, a gathering of the world’s major economies and a forum for addressing critical global challenges.
During his stay in Rio de Janeiro, President Tinubu is scheduled to engage in several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit. These discussions are expected to center on advancing Nigeria’s socio-economic reforms, with the aim of fostering international partnerships that can support Nigeria’s developmental goals, economic diversification, and global engagement.
This year’s G20 summit carries the theme “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet,” a topic that resonates with Nigeria’s own vision for inclusive growth and environmental stewardship. The agenda will focus on three essential dimensions of sustainable development—economic, social, and environmental—and will also explore ways to reform global governance structures to make them more equitable and effective in today’s interconnected world.
The summit is hosted by Brazil’s President, Lula da Silva, who has led the G20’s rotating presidency since December 2023. As Brazil steers the summit, da Silva aims to prioritize initiatives that not only promote economic growth but also emphasize social justice and environmental sustainability. His tenure as G20 president will conclude on November 30, 2024.
With leaders from around the world gathered in Brazil, the 2024 G20 summit offers Nigeria a significant platform to strengthen diplomatic ties, attract investment, and collaborate on global challenges such as climate change, poverty reduction, and technological advancement.
