Nigeria Reaffirms Support for WTO, Multilateralism at BRICS Summit

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation, with Vice President Kashim Shettima declaring that no country can attain sustainable progress by separating itself from the global community.

Shettima made the remarks during a meeting with World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India, where leaders and partner countries are discussing trade, global governance and economic resilience.

Speaking on Nigeria’s role as a BRICS partner country, the vice president said the country would continue supporting the WTO in promoting a rules-based international trading system built on cooperation rather than economic isolation.

“I believe the world is greater than one nation. We will continue to support the WTO in championing the cause of multilateralism. We are essentially one human family and interconnected. You cannot divorce yourself from the global community,” Shettima said.

He also argued that migration should be viewed as a catalyst for development rather than a burden, noting that many of the world’s most successful cities and economies have been shaped by people who crossed borders in search of opportunity.

According to Shettima, Nigeria’s global diaspora demonstrates the value of international mobility through its contributions in education, business, healthcare and innovation. He said countries stand to gain more by embracing talent and partnerships than by retreating into protectionism.

Nigeria is participating in the New Delhi summit as a BRICS partner country, a status it formally accepted in January 2025. The country is using the platform to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, technology, agriculture, energy and industrial development while advocating reforms that give developing nations a stronger voice in global institutions.

The summit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, shifting trade relationships and debates over sanctions dominating discussions among the expanded BRICS bloc. Leaders have also been negotiating a joint declaration centred on dialogue, restraint and greater South-South cooperation despite differing national interests. Reuters

For Nigeria, Shettima’s message reflects a broader diplomatic strategy of balancing national interests with deeper international engagement. As emerging economies seek to reshape global governance, the country is positioning itself as an advocate for cooperation, arguing that shared prosperity is more likely to be achieved through partnership than isolation.