Shettima says businesses are key to Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria's goal to reach a $1 trillion economy relies on businesses that can create value, increase production, and compete globally.

Mr Shettima spoke on Wednesday at a masterclass set up by the Aspire Women Forum at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The event aimed to prepare women and young people for export opportunities.

He was represented by his Special Assistant on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, Inna Audu. The vice president pointed out that training alone will not help entrepreneurs grow their businesses without access to finance, markets, and other forms of support.

The masterclass was themed 'From Survival to Thriving: Empowering Women and Youth for Export Readiness, Global Market Access and Prosperity under the Renewed Hope Agenda.'

Mr Shettima explained that the government cannot reach its economic goal without businesses that can grow, compete, and create jobs.

"Our ambition to build a one-trillion-dollar economy cannot be realised by government alone. It requires an ecosystem in which businesses can emerge, grow, compete and contribute to national development," he said.

He emphasized that women and young people must play a key role in boosting production, increasing household incomes, and creating jobs.

"The true measure of this masterclass will not be the number of people in this hall, but the number of businesses that become stronger, the number of entrepreneurs who reach new markets and the number of livelihoods transformed by what is learnt here," he added.

Mr Shettima praised the forum's founder, Zainab Marwa, and its partners for putting together the program.