Nigeria to drive Africa’s growth through education, innovation, agriculture – VP Shettima

By Kunle Sanni

Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that Nigeria’s commitment to harnessing the potential of its youth, investing in education, and advancing smart agriculture are pivotal strategies for addressing global and domestic challenges.

On a continental scale, the Vice President emphasized that African youths are central to driving this transformation.

Speaking at the Financial Times Global Risk Roundtable during the ongoing 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, VP Shettima remarked that while crises persist, they also present opportunities for nations to rebuild stronger.

He said, “The word for crisis in Chinese is ‘Wei Ji.’ Wei stands for danger, while Ji stands for opportunity. Yes, we have challenges, but those challenges are pregnant with opportunities to re-engineer our society and build back better.”

The Vice President reaffirmed Nigeria’s resolve to embrace innovation and empowerment, particularly through education, gender-focused initiatives, and smart agriculture, as key drivers to propel the economy into the fourth industrial revolution.

“The crisis has given us a unique opportunity to invest in people, especially in areas that will enable us to leapfrog our economies into global competitiveness,” he said.

Senator Shettima also rejected reliance on foreign aid, advocating instead for equal partnerships that preserve dignity.

“I don’t believe in aid; I believe in partnership. I’d rather carry my poverty with dignity and engage with people, nations, and companies on a pedestal of equality—not in a master-servant relationship. I didn’t come with a begging bowl,” he said.

The Vice President expressed optimism about Africa’s prospects, highlighting the continent’s abundant resources and strategic importance to global growth.

He said, “My continent is the richest in the world, and the trajectory of global growth is directed toward Africa. Nigeria will play a decisive role in that transition. The youths of Africa are the drivers of change.”

Acknowledging global crises, including conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan, the Vice President discussed their impact on supply chains, humanitarian challenges, and peace.

He called for multilateral collaboration, emphasizing that the interconnected nature of global challenges demands collective solutions.

“There is an incestuous relationship between the economy and ecology in the African continent. But hope springs eternal in the hearts of men. As members of the same human family, we can find solutions to our challenges.

“We must look inward to solve our problems, but multilateralism is key. These challenges are global, and we must fuse into one human family to overcome them,” the Vice President added.

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