Nigeria has officially sought South Africa’s support for its bid to gain full membership in the G20, BRICS, and the BRICS New Development Bank. This appeal was made during the 11th Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) ministerial session in Cape Town, where Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, addressed delegates.

Speaking on Monday, Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged South Africa to back Nigeria’s aspirations for leadership roles in thematic discussions under South Africa’s presidency of the G20, which began on December 1. As members of the expanded BRICS group, accounting for nearly 37% of global GDP, both nations share an ambition to amplify Africa’s voice in global affairs.

The Nigerian minister emphasized President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to resolving the Sudan crisis, highlighting his active participation in the African Union’s mediation committee. “We are committed to accelerating the peace process in Sudan to ensure conflicts within our region are de-escalated, paving the way for greater progress,” she said.

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South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Roland Lamola, affirmed his country’s readiness to amplify Africa’s priorities during its G20 presidency. “We count on Nigeria’s wise counsel as we undertake this responsibility,” Lamola stated. He underscored the mutual commitment to fostering vibrant bilateral ties and called for further collaboration across various sectors, including trade, education, health, ICT, and climate change.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also announced Nigeria’s plans to present a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at developing the skills of Nigerian mining geologists through South African certification programs. She stressed the importance of this initiative in boosting global competitiveness in the mining sector.

During the session, discussions spanned key areas such as trade, migration, defense, banking, and energy. Both countries also exchanged draft MoUs on consular and migration matters, with plans to finalize agreements by mid-2025.

This year’s BNC marks 25 years of bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa, reflecting decades of shared history and collaboration. Lamola highlighted the importance of deepening trade relations under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, urging both nations to explore bankable infrastructure projects to drive economic growth.

The ministerial meeting sets the stage for Tuesday’s presidential session, where Presidents Bola Tinubu and Cyril Ramaphosa are expected to sign strategic agreements and unveil new initiatives aimed at strengthening ties between Africa’s two leading economies.