Former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has criticised Nigeria’s designation as a BRICS partner country, stating it undermines the nation’s economic significance in Africa.
Speaking on Politics Today, Akinyemi said Nigeria deserved full membership during BRICS’ expansion rather than a partner role, which he described as a slight.
BRICS, comprising major economies such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, recently expanded to include Ethiopia, Iran, and others as full members.
Nigeria was admitted as a partner country, a category introduced during the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan.
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry highlighted Nigeria’s alignment with BRICS’ goals of fostering South-South cooperation and global governance reform.
However, Akinyemi insisted Nigeria’s economic stature warranted a more prominent role in the bloc.
