By

Sunday Dare

Three visits in less than a year. That is not mere coincidence, it is deliberate strategy. And as usual, disingenuous reportage from a section of the press is insinuating some obsession of President Tinubu with Brazil. Well, Yes. But It is an obsession in pursuit of economic partnerships and opportunities for Nigeria. And that’s what visionary leaders do.

The deeper truth, however, lies in a deliberate arc of diplomacy — one that connects Nigeria’s voice in global governance to concrete opportunities for investment, trade, and cooperation.

10,000 tractors and 50,000 pieces of equipment, to be assembled in Nigeria.
This project is estimated to provide about 100,000 direct jobs and over 5 million indirect jobs. The program is anticipated to advance agricultural mechanisation and food security in Nigeria. It is imperative to note that the Green Imperative Agreement was signed during the visit of the Brazilian Foreign Minister, H.E. Mauro Viera, in Abuja this year.

In Oil & Gas, Brazilian giants such as Petrobras and Embraer are exploring investments in energy and aviation. The BASA Agreement for a direct flight route between our two countries is already on the table to be consummated , a move that would dramatically improve connectivity, lower costs, and unlock new flows of trade, tourism, and investment.

Cultural Linkages:

Asides trade and economy, Nigeria and Brazil are linked by deep historical bonds dating back to the transatlantic slave trade, when millions of Africans — especially Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo — were taken to Brazil. Their languages, faiths, music, and cuisine left lasting imprints, visible today in Salvador da Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, and Afro-Brazilian traditions like Candomblé and Capoeira. Consular relations between the two countries are marked by the presence of an estimated 9,000 Nigerians residing in Brazil, the majority of whom live in Sao Paulo, the biggest city and commercial nerve center of the country.

These roots now fuel modern exchanges in art, film, music, and academia, with Yoruba studies thriving in Brazil and Afro-Brazilian festivals attracting Nigerians. Such cultural diplomacy strengthens goodwill and opens pathways in the creative economy, heritage tourism, and education — proving the Nigeria–Brazil relationship is as much about shared identity as it is about shared strategy.

Beyond Trade and Diplomacy — Towards Shared Prosperity

The growing relevance of BRICS and the G20 signals a shift toward a multipolar world order. This is not about opposing any single power bloc; it is about ensuring space for voices like Nigeria’s and Brazil’s in reshaping trade, finance, technology, and food systems.

As President Tinubu argued in Brasília, BRICS and South–South frameworks allow nations like Nigeria and Brazil to ‘look inward to decide what is important for our people and how we can leverage partnerships to accelerate development.’

Nigeria and Brazil share several commonalities, including vast territories, large populations, tropical climates, and similar colonial histories. Both Countries hold considerable influence within their respective regions and are active members of key international organisations. They have been strong advocate for South-South Cooperation, with Brazil viewing Nigeria as a strategic gateway to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) market.

This State Visit is the next leap forward in a carefully crafted strategy — one that transforms shared history and mutual challenges into shared prosperity.

This State Visit is yet one of President Tinubu’s Power Forward Diplomacy (PFD), one that obliterates obstacles but propels Nigeria into a new era of bold economic and political diplomacy. A handshake across the Atlantic between two Global players in their own rights. Let the world take note : BRAZIL IS THEREFORE NOT A DETOUR BUT A DESTINATION.

-(Dare is Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communication)