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| Tinubu Demands Finance Access, Health Equity, and Climate Justice for Africa at 17th BRICS Summit |
President Bola Tinubu orated vehemently at BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6–7 2025 saying Africa must wield significant clout in global decision-making. He urged fair rules, more funds, and shared tech. He said Africa did little to heat the planet but faces deep harm. His words broke through usual summit lines and set a clear call for action .
Nigeria joined BRICS as a partner country on January 17, 2025. This gave the country new seats at finance and health talks. Tinubu said this showed trust in Africa’s role. He noted that previous meetings had talked about fairness but saw little change. He pressed leaders to turn words into deals on debt relief and climate cash.
Africa makes only 4 percent of global CO₂ yet feels most climate harm. Floods, droughts, heat waves and poor harvests cost lives and money. A U.N. report said Africa will lack $2.5 trillion by 2030 to fight climate change. That gap leaves people hungry and nations in deep debt .
Tinubu asked for new loans at low rates for nations that need help. He said green bonds must match needs on the ground. He called for debt swaps that free cash for schools and clinics. He urged richer nations to back a fair fund for loss and damage.
He said health gaps slow Africa’s growth. He asked BRICS to pool cash for vaccines and local labs. He named how non-communicable diseases and weak systems cost lives. He urged training for nurses and building more clinics. He said no one should die for lack of a diagnosis .
He then spoke on tech. He said Africa must get more than gadgets. He asked that local firms learn to build and fix green tools. He tied this to jobs for young people. He said Nigeria’s Vision 2050 shows how to grow clean energy and create work .
On South-South ties, he noted how Brazil helped Nigeria fight hunger in the 1980s. He praised India’s health drives in Africa. He talked about joint research on drought-resistant crops. He said such links speak louder than donor handouts.
Tinubu laid out plans for COP-30 in December 2025. He said BRICS must set targets on climate cash, debt relief, and tech training. He said Africa needs clear roadmaps to adapt roads and farms. He pressed for unity behind a shared push for change.
Critics say BRICS lacks safeguards on rights and risks new debts. They point to some Chinese loans that left nations tied to repayment. Tinubu said rules must be open, with clear terms and public data. He said Africa will hold partners to account.
Dr. Amina Khalid, a finance expert, praised Tinubu’s push for fair loans. She said long-term, low-rate bonds could free billions for health care. She warned that global power players may resist losing control of fund rules.
Prof. John Adeniyi, a health policy scholar, said a pooled BRICS health fund could speed vaccine access. He said Africa has research talent but needs lab spaces and cash. He urged BRICS to back local scientists, not just import kits.
Ms. Lindiwe Zulu, a climate activist from South Africa, said debt relief must match local climate plans. She said funds should flow fast after storms or floods. She warned that slow cash risks more disaster deaths and more poverty.
In a wider sense, Tinubu’s talk marked a shift. He said Africa will not just ask for change. It will help write new rules. He said global bodies like the IMF and World Bank need more African seats on their boards.
He said Nigeria will use its BRICS voice to push reforms of IMF quotas. He asked for votes in proportion to economic size. He argued that Africa holds more votes in a new fund for green transitions.
He said global health must cover more than pandemics. He talked about local data systems to track diseases. He linked health and climate, noting floods spread malaria and water shortages spur malnutrition.
He shared Nigeria’s work on urban resilience. He said Lagos now uses data sensors to warn of floods. He tied that to BRICS tech work on smart cities. He urged more such links.
He closed by urging shared action before COP-30. He said bold finance plans and clear tech deals must be on paper by year-end. He urged all to walk the talk.
This speech put Africa’s needs front and center. It linked climate, health, debt, and tech in one push for fairness. It showed a new African confidence in global talks. As Nigeria steps into BRICS, leaders now face a clear test: match change with action.