The BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, led by its Russian chapter, has announced plans to open a regional office in Nigeria to strengthen economic cooperation and support women-led entrepreneurship across BRICS and African regions.
The announcement was made in Abuja on Tuesday during a press briefing following a two-day working visit by a five-member Russian delegation headed by the Chairperson of BRICS Russia WBA, Anna Nesterova.
During the visit, the delegation held a closed-door meeting with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at the State House. BRICS is a geopolitical and economic forum for emerging economies, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Nesterova explained that the visit was designed to introduce the alliance’s objectives and explore opportunities in technology, healthcare, education, agriculture, and labour mobility.
“This was our first meeting here in Nigeria. We introduced ourselves and expressed our readiness to open a regional office in the country. We need to be smart about this new region for our business needs. Nigeria is a promising market, and we see great potential in working with local partners,” Nesterova said.
She emphasised that the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance is a business-driven initiative that works independently under the larger BRICS structure.
“The ultimate goal of the Women’s Business Alliance is not just meetings, but action. It’s a separate body, and every member of each national chapter reports on the results of what we did. That is why it is very important for us to be here and to start the process of opening the regional office of Women Business Alliance in Nigeria. It is our mission to develop your country,” she added.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to expand bilateral ties with Russia through women-focused economic collaboration. She described the meeting as timely and an important step toward deepening strategic cooperation between the two countries.
“This platform aligns closely with the priorities of President Bola Tinubu’s administration—inclusive growth, youth empowerment, and global partnerships,” the minister said.
She praised the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for backing the initiative, saying she represents the transformative power of women in shaping societies and building bridges across nations.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also commended Nesterova’s efforts to bring the alliance to Nigeria, noting that it reflects a shared vision for inclusive economic growth.
A statement released by the minister’s media aide, Magnus Eze, outlined priority sectors for collaboration, including agriculture, energy, digital innovation, and education.
“The technical session before us offers an invaluable opportunity to explore areas of strategic cooperation. With Nigeria’s vast market, natural resources, and youthful population, combined with Russia’s technological expertise, we can build win-win partnerships,” the statement read.
It further underlined that women entrepreneurs and leaders would play a central role in ensuring sustainable and inclusive outcomes from the cooperation.
“This gathering is more than symbolic. It must result in actionable outcomes—identifying cooperation frameworks, establishing joint ventures, and building networks between Nigerian and Russian women entrepreneurs. We are ready to work closely with our Russian counterparts and the broader BRICS platform to promote inclusive prosperity,” the minister said.