On September 30, 2025, the State House in Abuja became the stage for a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s evolving international partnerships, as First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu welcomed the Russian Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance. In her address, Senator Tinubu didn’t mince words about Nigeria’s global potential: “Nigeria is a very interesting place that you will find rewarding for partnerships,” she declared, underscoring the nation’s readiness for deeper engagement with BRICS nations and the wider Global South. According to reporting from Vanguard, she emphasized that her office would continue to “provide advocacy and encouragement,” while ministries would handle the statutory responsibilities and budgets necessary to support these ambitious missions.
BRICS, the intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has become a defining force in the emerging multipolar world order. By 2025, the bloc represented about 45% of the world’s population and contributed roughly 40% of global GDP, as noted by Trends Research and Advisory. The addition of Middle Eastern states such as the UAE and Iran further bolstered BRICS’s economic weight, particularly in the energy sector—a point that has not gone unnoticed by observers of global power dynamics.
The First Lady’s meeting with the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance was more than a courtesy call. It was a strategic engagement, signaling Nigeria’s intent to play a more active role in shaping the international economic and political landscape. Senator Tinubu highlighted her own humanitarian efforts, including the Renewed Hope Initiative and a recent campaign to raise funds for a national library project. She also announced plans to distribute sanitary towels to rural schoolgirls in Gombe State in the coming days, demonstrating a commitment to grassroots empowerment alongside high-level diplomacy.
The visiting Russian delegation, led by Anna Nesterova, Chairperson of the Alliance, was quick to recognize Senator Tinubu’s leadership. Nesterova described her as “an incredible woman who not only changes lives for the better but also paves the way for a prosperous future for the Nigerian people.” Nesterova revealed plans to establish a BRICS Women’s Business Alliance Regional Office in Nigeria, envisioning it as a gateway for women entrepreneurs to access international markets and BRICS collaboration. She further disclosed that the Alliance’s Common Digital Platform already connects over 3,000 businesswomen from 60 countries, with 50 Nigerian applicants participating in its Startups Contest last year. As a tangible gesture of support, the group announced a donation of 1,000 labor and delivery kits to Nigeria, aimed at strengthening maternal health and fostering deeper people-to-people ties.
The Russian delegation included a roster of senior business leaders and academics—Ms. Liudmila Shcherbakova of VET PHARM Group, Ms. Natalia Vershinina of United Migration Center, Prof. Liudmila Popova of Orel State University, and Ms. Anna Meshcheryakova of Third Opinion AI—all expressing readiness to deepen collaboration across a spectrum of sectors. Their visit culminated in a technical session at the State House Banquet Hall, focusing on “Strengthening Bilateral Ties and Exploring Investment Opportunities between Nigeria and Russia.”
Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, set the tone for the discussions by insisting that the gathering “must go beyond symbolism.” She called for “actionable frameworks for cooperation, joint ventures, and lasting networks between Nigerian and Russian women entrepreneurs,” as reported by Vanguard. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, reinforced this message, highlighting Nigeria’s longstanding ties with Russia—dating back to 1960—and noting that women own over 40% of Nigeria’s small and medium enterprises and account for nearly 39% of registered exporters. Other government voices, including Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulieman-Ibrahim and Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani, echoed the importance of empowering women and leveraging technology for economic growth.
This surge of engagement comes at a time when alliances across the Global South are redrawing the world order. According to Trends Research and Advisory, the recent Shanghai Summit in Tianjin, China, showcased the Global South’s unified rejection of unilateral Western dominance and its aspiration to build a more just, multipolar international system. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)—another major bloc that includes China, Russia, India, and others—boasts a combined population of about 3.4 billion and economies representing a quarter of global output. China’s economy alone reached $18.7 trillion in 2024, followed by India at $3.9 trillion and Russia at $2.1 trillion.
Both BRICS and the SCO have articulated common goals: advancing multipolarity, reforming global trade rules, and promoting economic cooperation. While the West, particularly the United States, seeks to maintain its preeminent position, these blocs are pushing for a fairer international order—one built on dialogue, consultation, and mutual benefit. The recent accession of Middle Eastern states to BRICS has amplified the bloc’s influence, especially in energy markets, and has provided countries like Nigeria with new avenues for partnership and strategic diversification.
Despite their diversity, the members of these alliances are united by a desire to address the economic, social, environmental, and geopolitical crises that have plagued the Global South. They advocate for peaceful conflict resolution, regional cooperation, and the creation of economic mechanisms that rebalance global power. Challenges remain, of course. The SCO, for example, must navigate persistent tensions between India and Pakistan, as well as rivalries in Central Asia. Yet, proponents argue that overcoming these hurdles could further enhance the organization’s ability to achieve its broad objectives.
The Middle East’s involvement in both BRICS and the SCO exemplifies how countries are leveraging these alliances to diversify their international options and participate actively in shaping a more equitable global system. For Nigeria, the establishment of a BRICS Women’s Business Alliance Regional Office and the ongoing engagement with Russian and other BRICS partners signal a strategic shift—one that aims to harness the nation’s entrepreneurial dynamism, especially among women, and translate it into concrete economic and social gains.
As the world edges toward a new era of multipolarity, Nigeria’s proactive stance within these emerging alliances reflects not just ambition but a pragmatic recognition of changing global realities. The country’s leaders, women entrepreneurs, and international partners are all betting that these new frameworks will deliver the peace, stability, and prosperity that have long eluded so many in the Global South. The next chapter in this story is still being written, but for now, Nigeria appears determined to ensure its voice is heard—and its opportunities realized—on the world stage.
