Abuja: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed Nigeria’s position towards benefiting from various sectors of the global economy during the 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Amb. Bolaji Akinremi, Director of Reform and Foreign Service Innovation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. He spoke against the backdrop of the expectations for the Summit, given that Nigeria is a member of the African Union (AU), and the event would be hosted for the first time in Africa.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the G20 agenda will impact positively on the socioeconomic, cultural, and humanitarian development of the African continent. Akinremi stated that the Johannesburg G20 Summit will be the first of its kind to be held on African soil, carrying great significance for Africans. He emphasized Nigeria’s desire to be recognized as a member of the G20 on its own terms, given its status as the largest economy in Africa, rather than merely participating under the AU platform.
Akinremi highlighted Nigeria’s preparation to host one of the pre-summit meetings in Abuja as evidence of the country’s readiness to participate fully in the forthcoming summit. He noted that discussions on debt sustainability and reduction of the debt burden across Africa are expected, along with topics such as climate change and climate financing, which could strengthen the Africa Continental Free Trade Area economically.
The Director emphasized Nigeria’s strategic position and readiness to harness potential opportunities from the summit. He mentioned that a pre-summit meeting in Nigeria would involve inter-ministerial, private, and public sector participation, aiming for positive outcomes from the summit. He also pointed out that Nigeria and South Africa have already initiated a youth dialogue, which could be further enhanced by the G20 summit.
Akinremi described the G20 as a group of 20 powerful and economically influential countries that shape global economic directions in financing, development, and industrialization. He stressed that discussions on debt sustainability at the summit could provide relief to African countries, including Nigeria, given its increasing debt profile.
He encouraged private sector operators in Nigeria to leverage President Bola Tinubu’s policies to foster a thriving business environment under the auspices of the G20 summit. Akinremi concluded by expressing optimism for a productive outcome and active participation in the G20 in Johannesburg.