President Bola Tinubu has pledged to drive Nigeria’s development through technology and food security, adopting lessons from Brazil’s economic transformation.
Speaking at a meeting with Nigerians in the Diaspora in Brazil on Tuesday evening, Tinubu said his administration was committed to reforms anchored on innovation, inclusiveness, and sustainable growth.
“We must bring Nigeria to the forefront of Africa’s progress, driven by technology, food sovereignty, and the courage to change our destiny,” he said.
The President noted that Nigeria and Brazil once shared similar economic starting points, but Brazil has since made remarkable progress in technology and agriculture.
“Once upon a time, Nigeria and Brazil stood on the same level. Look at Brazil today, its technology, its food systems. We must ask ourselves: what do they have that we don’t? We have the brains, the energy, and the youth. Now, we must act,” he added.
Tinubu commended the Nigerian community in Brazil, urging them to remain active partners in building a nation defined by innovation, culture, and unity.
Acknowledging the impact of ongoing economic reforms, he likened them to “bitter medicine” that would ultimately deliver long-term stability and prosperity.
“Once the fever is gone, you know the cure was worth it,” he said.
The President also linked his diplomatic visits to a broader plan of strengthening global partnerships in manufacturing, technology, and cultural exchange.
He expressed support for Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka’s upcoming cultural voyage, inspired by an initiative he introduced as Lagos governor, stressing that Nigerians must continue to dream big.
“If Wole Soyinka, at over 90, can still dream and act, then we have no excuse. The dream must be realized. The time is now,” Tinubu said.
Earlier, Mr. Chika Emmanuel, President of the Nigerian Diaspora Organisation of Brazil, praised Tinubu’s leadership and pledged the diaspora’s support for national development.
He highlighted the rising number of Nigerian postgraduate students in Brazil, noting that the figure had grown from three PhD students to nearly 300 in less than two years.
“We are also looking for direct investment back home, especially in agriculture, technology, and infrastructure. We would like to be a channel to this national development,” Emmanuel added.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, described the meeting as historic, stressing the deep-rooted cultural ties between Nigeria and Brazil and the need to rekindle them. He also disclosed that the planned direct flights from Lagos to São Paulo could boost trade and tourism, while raising the prospect of establishing a Nigerian consulate in the city.
Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State praised Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly the clearance of a $7 billion forex backlog and the removal of multiple exchange rates, saying they had restored investor confidence.
“Before, even Nigerians in Nigeria couldn’t invest freely. But now, any investor can come in, do business, and take their profits out without stress,” he said.
The event, anchored by NiDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri, was attended by top government officials, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Trade, Jumoke Oduwole; and Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, alongside diplomats, students, and cultural ambassadors.
(NAN)
