PM Modi Meets Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, Reviews Strategic Partnership at BRICS Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima Mustapha on September 13 on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with the two leaders reviewing the expanding India-Nigeria relationship and discussing opportunities for deeper cooperation across trade, defence, energy, agriculture, healthcare and digital technologies.

Vice President Shettima is leading Nigeria’s delegation to the BRICS Summit. The Nigerian delegation includes senior ministers handling foreign affairs, industry and trade, digital technology, humanitarian affairs, women affairs, and science and technology, reflecting the broad scope of Nigeria’s engagement at the summit.

India and Nigeria Review Strategic Partnership

During the meeting, Modi and Shettima reviewed the multifaceted relationship between India and Nigeria and expressed satisfaction with the steady progress being made across several sectors.

The discussions focused on trade and investment, defence and security, energy cooperation, agriculture, healthcare and digital technologies. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the India-Nigeria Strategic Partnership and expanding cooperation in areas that can contribute directly to economic growth and development in both countries.

Nigeria is one of India’s important partners in Africa, and the relationship has gradually expanded beyond traditional commercial ties to include technology, capacity building, security cooperation and development partnerships.

Trade, Energy and Digital Technologies in Focus

Economic cooperation featured prominently in the talks, with both sides discussing opportunities for expanding trade and investment. India and Nigeria also see considerable potential in energy cooperation, given Nigeria’s role as a major African energy producer and India’s growing energy requirements.

Digital technologies emerged as another important area of cooperation. India’s experience in developing digital public infrastructure, expanding financial inclusion and using technology to improve delivery of public services has created new opportunities for partnerships with developing countries.

Vice President Shettima acknowledged India’s development experience and its contribution to capacity building and economic development in Nigeria, highlighting the wider role that knowledge-sharing and technical cooperation can play in strengthening bilateral relations.

Defence, Agriculture and Healthcare Cooperation

The two leaders also discussed cooperation in defence and security, an area that has gained greater importance as both countries confront evolving security challenges and seek to strengthen domestic capabilities.

Agriculture and healthcare were identified as additional areas with considerable potential. Cooperation in agricultural technology, productivity improvement, pharmaceutical supplies, medical training and healthcare systems can contribute to wider development objectives in Nigeria while opening new opportunities for Indian companies and institutions.

Capacity building has remained an important element of India’s engagement with Nigeria and other African countries, with training and technical cooperation forming a central part of India’s development partnership model.

Modi and Shettima Discuss Global South Priorities

Beyond bilateral issues, Modi and Shettima exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the priorities and concerns of the Global South.

Both leaders emphasised the importance of greater cooperation in multilateral institutions and called for an international system that is more representative, inclusive and multipolar. The discussions reflected the growing demand among developing countries for stronger representation in institutions that shape global economic, financial and political decision-making.

India has increasingly placed Global South cooperation at the centre of its diplomatic engagement, while Nigeria remains one of Africa’s most influential political and economic actors. Greater coordination between the two countries could therefore carry significance beyond their bilateral relationship.

India Reaffirms Wider Engagement With Africa

Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening relations with Nigeria while deepening India’s broader engagement with Africa.

The meeting underscored New Delhi’s effort to expand political, economic and technological cooperation with African countries while supporting stronger representation of developing nations in global institutions.

For India and Nigeria, the discussions at the BRICS Summit reinforced a shared objective of building a forward-looking partnership capable of contributing not only to national development but also to wider peace, prosperity and cooperation across the Global South.

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