Nigeria and Russia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (WBA).
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made this known on Tuesday during an interactive session with stakeholders at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja. The meeting was held to mark the visit of the Russian Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the engagement as timely, noting that it provided an opportunity to explore new avenues for investment and cooperation. She stressed that while Nigeria and Russia share decades of friendship and collaboration in education, defence, energy, and diplomacy, both nations must now look beyond history and embrace fresh opportunities for the future.
The minister highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration’s 4-Ds foreign policy approach—Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora—as a clear roadmap for Nigeria’s international engagement. She added that these priorities, focused on inclusive growth and youth empowerment, strongly align with the mission of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance.
Commending First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for hosting the event, Odumegwu-Ojukwu described her as “an excellent example of the transformative power of women in shaping societies and building bridges across nations.” She also praised the decision of Ms. Anna Nesterova, Chairperson of the Russian WBA, to bring the alliance’s dynamism to Nigeria, calling it a bold affirmation of commitment to inclusive economic partnerships.
According to the minister, Nigeria and Russia have significant opportunities for cooperation in trade, agriculture, energy, education, digital innovation, and small and medium enterprises. She stressed the importance of women’s active involvement in these sectors, noting that their participation will make partnerships more sustainable and people-focused.
“This gathering is more than symbolic,” she said. “It must produce actionable outcomes—frameworks for cooperation, joint ventures, and lasting networks between Nigerian and Russian women entrepreneurs. By boosting access to finance, knowledge, and markets, we can strengthen the economic pillars of both our nations.”
She concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s readiness to work closely with Russia and the wider BRICS platform to foster inclusive prosperity and deepen bilateral ties.
