Shettima hails MIT’s role in global innovation, urges African entrepreneurs to collaborate

By Kunle Sanni –

Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for its significant contributions to the global entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem, noting that its initiatives have helped raise more than $1.5 billion and created over 30,000 direct jobs over the last 20 years.

The Vice President also called on African entrepreneurs to strengthen collaboration in order to fully harness the continent’s vast economic potential, urging them to leverage MIT’s networks for resource mobilisation and job creation.

Shettima made the remarks on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while receiving a delegation from the Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship 2025–2026, led by the Executive Director of MIT’s Kuo Sharper Centre for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship, Dina Sherif.

Describing Africa as “the new frontier”, the Vice President stressed the need for unity among African professionals and business leaders to translate the continent’s abundant human and material resources into tangible development outcomes.

“Africa is blessed with enormous potential, but its people must work together to convert these opportunities into real impact on lives and livelihoods,” Shettima said.

He also highlighted the economic reform agenda of President Bola Tinubu, saying the President has demonstrated courage in taking bold decisions aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s economy and improving citizens’ welfare.

Earlier, Sherif said the delegation was at the Presidential Villa to brief the Vice President on the activities of the Kuo Sharper Centre for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship, which she described as a global hub dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship.

She explained that the team’s visit to Nigeria was part of activities surrounding the Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship programme, which has helped to promote entrepreneurship across Africa.