FG pledges to harness economic potential of Nigeria’s geo-heritage sites
By Kunle Sanni –
Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to unlocking the socio-economic potential of Nigeria’s geo-heritage sites through collaboration with stakeholders, including state governments.
He gave the assurance on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while receiving a delegation from the UNESCO International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP) Nigeria National Committee, led by Chairman Dr. Aminu Abdullahi Isyaku.
“It is better late than never to explore the developmental and economic benefits of geo-heritage sites,” Shettima said, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is repositioning the country across key sectors.
The Vice President commended the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, for their efforts in safeguarding geo-heritage resources. He also praised UNESCO’s alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing the potential of geoscience to drive climate resilience, sustainable tourism, employment generation, peace in host communities, and international research funding.
“There are a lot of economic and development benefits of geo-heritage – jobs, sustainable tourism, and peace in host communities,” Shettima said, assuring sustained federal support for the committee’s work. “This country is blessed. All hands must be on deck to make it work. I urge you to come on board, let us work as a team to reposition this country.”
Earlier, Dr. Isyaku appealed for government support to enable the committee complete the inventory and mapping of Nigeria’s geo-heritage sites as well as ongoing geoscience projects. He explained that establishing a national committee, 50 years after the global body was formed, has positioned Nigeria within the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) framework.
He pledged that the committee would intensify efforts to raise public awareness on the value of geosciences and ensure its initiatives align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
