By Gwurld4026 
BRICS Expands: Understanding Nigeria’s Role after Brazil’s Announcement
On January 17, 2025, Brazil, serving as the current chair of BRICS, announced Nigeria’s formal admission as a partner country in the BRICS alliance.
Key Details:
- Partner Country Status: Nigeria becomes the ninth partner country of BRICS, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
- Significance of Nigeria’s Inclusion: With the world’s sixth-largest population and Africa’s largest, Nigeria is one of the continent’s major economies. Its inclusion reflects shared interests with other BRICS members, particularly in strengthening South-South cooperation and reforming global governance.
- BRICS Expansion: Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS has been expanding its partnerships. In 2024, the bloc added Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates as full members. Saudi Arabia has been invited to join, and countries like Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have formally applied for membership.