Just in: Nigeria participates in BRICS health ministerial for the first time

DDM News

Nigeria has formally joined the BRICS Ministerial Health Meeting, marking its first-ever participation in the influential global health platform.

BRICS is an acronym representing a group of emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – which collaborate on various economic, political, and cultural initiatives to enhance their collective influence in global affairs.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that this milestone was announced on Thursday by Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, via his official X handle @SalakoIziaq.

The Minister revealed that Nigeria is actively working to strengthen bilateral ties with Brazil and deepen engagement with the wider BRICS alliance.

The BRICS Ministerial Health Meeting is currently underway at the prestigious Itamaraty Palace in Brasília, Brazil.

The session is being chaired by Brazil’s Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, whose handle @padilhando was also tagged in the announcement.

BRICS, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, represents a coalition of some of the world’s most populous and economically dynamic nations.

These countries jointly advocate for multilateral cooperation across sectors, including health, education, infrastructure, and development.

According to Dr. Salako, the BRICS platform provides an essential opportunity for member and partner nations to jointly tackle the most urgent health challenges confronting humanity.

He emphasized that Nigeria’s health priorities are strongly aligned with those of BRICS, particularly in the pursuit of equitable healthcare access and global pandemic preparedness.

The Minister used Nigeria’s debut at the meeting to advocate for stronger South-South cooperation among developing countries.

He also called for greater global solidarity as the international health landscape continues to evolve due to climate crises, emerging diseases, and funding disparities.

Dr. Salako expressed hope that Nigeria’s participation would lead to expanded collaboration in health research, data sharing, pharmaceutical production, and health workforce development.

He reiterated the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to health sector reform through the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Minister noted that initiatives like the Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme are already being implemented to build resilient and inclusive healthcare systems in Nigeria.

He described the BRICS forum as a unique opportunity to amplify the voices of developing nations and push for equitable distribution of resources and technologies.

Nigeria’s involvement, he said, also reinforces its commitment to achieving universal health coverage and improving healthcare outcomes across all demographics.

The announcement was shared using the hashtags #SalakoIziaq, #HealthSectorRenewal, #RenewedHopeAgenda, and #BRICS, indicating key policy themes underpinning the engagement.

Observers view Nigeria’s invitation to BRICS health meetings as a diplomatic achievement and a sign of growing international recognition.

Public health experts believe the collaboration could unlock new sources of funding, knowledge exchange, and innovation in Nigeria’s healthcare delivery.

The Itamaraty Palace summit is expected to result in a joint declaration outlining BRICS’ health policy agenda over the next few years.

Nigeria’s participation means it could play a role in shaping that agenda, especially in advocating for fairer health outcomes in the Global South.

The BRICS alliance has increasingly sought partnerships beyond its core members to build a more inclusive and multipolar world order.

Nigeria’s entry into BRICS health dialogues aligns with its broader foreign policy goals of regional leadership and South-South collaboration.

This development is likely to open more doors for Nigeria in global decision-making spaces, especially as health crises continue to define global security narratives.

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s health sector have applauded the move and urged the government to translate the engagement into actionable reforms at home.

The meeting in Brazil continues as ministers deliberate on ways to strengthen international health systems amid rising global threats.

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