President Bola Tinubu will travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday to participate in the 19th G20 Leaders’ Summit. The summit, which convenes on Monday, November 18, and Tuesday, November 19, 2024, will bring together leaders from the world’s top 20 economies, the European Union, the African Union, and key multilateral financial institutions.
Tinubu’s participation comes at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who currently chairs the G20. The summit’s theme, “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet,” will focus on critical global issues, including poverty and hunger eradication, reforms in global governance, and sustainable development and energy transitions.
Nigeria’s Advocacy for Global Reform
Nigeria, under President Tinubu’s leadership, has consistently called for the reform of global governance institutions and emphasized its readiness to take on a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. At the G20 summit, Tinubu is expected to push these advocacy points while advancing Nigeria’s socio-economic reform agenda during bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.
Delegation and Itinerary
President Tinubu will be accompanied by key government officials, including:
- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar
- Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha
- Minister of Art, Tourism, Culture, and Creativity, Hannatu Musawa
- Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi
- Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed
The trip marks Tinubu’s first visit to Brazil as President and his 31st international trip since assuming office 17 months ago.
Record of Foreign Engagements
During his tenure, Tinubu has logged an impressive record of international diplomacy. He has spent 125 days abroad, visited 16 countries, and accumulated over 267 flight hours. His foreign destinations include:
- Africa: Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Bissau (Guinea-Bissau), Accra (Ghana), Dakar (Senegal), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and Pretoria (South Africa)
- Europe: London (United Kingdom, four times), Berlin (Germany), and The Hague (Netherlands)
- Middle East: Abu Dhabi and Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia, twice)
- Asia: New Delhi (India) and Nairobi (Kenya)
- Americas: New York (United States of America)
- Neighboring Countries: Porto Novo (Benin Republic)
At the conclusion of the summit, Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria. This high-profile engagement underscores Nigeria’s commitment to shaping global policies and addressing critical global challenges.
