As more countries signify interest in joining the BRICS group of nations, the incoming administration of President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to apply for membership in the emerging market bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
A university don and foreign policy expert, Dr Tochukwu Okeke made the recommendation in an exclusive interview with newsmen ahead of the May 29 inauguration of a new administration in Nigeria.
Dr Okeke said the incoming administration should join BRICS because it is an international platform that will provide Nigeria with an opportunity to become a big player in the international market and give it a voice, not just in trade, but in other issues that will be on the table.
“It is a platform that is rare to find particularly when some emerging powers are part of it and more are becoming interested in joining,” the University of Abuja lecturer said.
“These are areas that the incoming administration should begin to consider more seriously. Nigeria is called the giant of Africa but that which makes us the giant is not been fed. We need to feed these areas that will make us the real giant so that the world will begin to hear about Nigeria again.
“Nigeria is so big in terms of landmass, population, resource availability, and leadership responsibility that cannot be compared with any other country within the West African sub-region. But because Ghana for instance have been able to get their acts together, many companies are now relocating from Nigeria and moving to Ghana. That shouldn’t be heard, Nigeria should be the place where many countries in Africa should be wanting to be like.
“Nigeria should provide that leadership, we should live up to that name of being a giant and I believe that aligning with the BRICS countries will help to inspire that confidence in Nigeria in terms of economic development, social security positioning, and human capital development.”
BRICS member nations are expected to discuss the issue of membership expansion when they meet in Cape Town, South Africa between June 2 to June 3, 2023.
Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Indonesia are among 19 countries that have so far signified interest in joining BRICS.
