World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala met with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit in New Delhi, India, to discuss global trade dynamics and their impact on Nigeria and Africa.

Okonjo-Iweala disclosed the meeting via social media, noting that discussions focused on critical trade developments alongside Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the broader Nigerian delegation.

Shettima, who is representing President Bola Tinubu at the September 12–13 summit, reaffirmed Nigeria’s endorsement of the rules-based multilateral trading system and its continued support for the WTO.

The Vice President emphasized that global economic challenges require international cooperation, noting that economic isolation is unviable for developing nations within an interconnected global market.

He also highlighted the economic benefits of international migration, asserting that cross-border mobility drives innovation, business expansion, and development through diaspora contributions and expert skills transfer.

The meeting underscores Nigeria's diplomatic stance that its partner status within the expanded BRICS bloc—joined in January 2025—complements rather than replaces its commitments to established global multilateral trade frameworks.