Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that Nigeria’s economy is on a “new growth trajectory,” attributing the surge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “bold and courageous leadership” and strategic policy initiatives.

This declaration comes as Nigeria prepares to rekindle its strategic dialogue with Brazil, a partnership dormant for over a decade.

The forthcoming Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism will see Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin lead a delegation of top officials from both the public and private sectors to Nigeria.

“In President Bola Tinubu, we have a leader who has shown that dexterity, that audacity to hope for a better tomorrow,” Shettima affirmed during a preparatory meeting with ministers and agency heads at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.

Shettima emphasised the need for meticulous planning, urging all stakeholders to “take charge of the initiative of the discussions so that we can take it to the next level, let’s walk the talk.”

He further stressed, “The most important thing at this moment is for us to actualize the dreams of our nation’s development. We have the resources and institutional knowledge to make this work for our country.”

The dialogue aims to leverage the vast opportunities inherent in the Nigeria-Brazil partnership, focusing on sectors such as agriculture, culture, tourism, livestock, and defence technology.

“This is a golden opportunity to strengthen ties with a nation that shares so many similarities with us,” Shettima noted.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, highlighted the potential for agricultural revitalisation, saying, “It is a good day for Nigeria because agriculture will play a major role in the partnership. We have an opportunity to catch up with the rest of the world and be on our way to food sovereignty.”

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, spoke of the cultural connection, stating, “There is a huge population in Brazil of Nigerian descent who have a lot of interest in Nigeria. Brazilians have a lot of interest in tapping into our creative industry.” She also mentioned plans to rebuild the Nigerian House in Brazil and host an annual Orisha Festival.

On defence cooperation, Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru, revealed, “All is set for signing of a defence agreement with Brazil. We are also engaging with them on defence industry development to start production centres in Nigeria.”

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Ali Pate, pointed to healthcare opportunities, stating, “Brazil is able to produce almost everything they need, including pharmaceuticals and vaccines. We are keen on turning things around and with the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are unlocking the healthcare value chain.”

Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture, Marion Moon, added, “Brazil’s agricultural expertise—from their successful cropland expansion to their global leadership in key commodities—offers invaluable insights for our development. The upcoming $1.1 billion Green Imperative Project exemplifies the depth of our relationship.”

The Strategic Dialogue will be preceded by a Trade and Investment Forum, coinciding with Vice President Alckmin’s visit. “This renewed engagement signifies a powerful step towards unlocking the immense potential of this strategic partnership,” concluded a government source.