Women, youths key to Nigeria’s $1tn economy — Shettima

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says women and young people must play central roles in building Nigeria’s proposed $1 trillion economy through enterprise, investment and innovation.

Shettima stated this in Abuja on Wednesday at the Aspire Women Forum masterclass.

It was reported that the event’s theme is ‘From Survival to Thriving: Empowering Women and Youth for Export Readiness, Global Market Access and Prosperity under the Renewed Hope Agenda’.

The Vice-President was represented by Inna Binta Audu, Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners.

He described the transition from survival to thriving as an economic imperative and national development priority.

“The true measure of this masterclass will not be the number of people in this hall, but the number of businesses that become stronger.

“This also includes the number of entrepreneurs who reach new markets and the number of livelihoods transformed by what is learnt here,” he said.

Shettima said President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was anchored on productive enterprise, investment, innovation and Nigerians’ capacity to create value.

He said: “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 women’s and youths’ economic participation would expand productive capacity, strengthen household incomes, create jobs and widen opportunities for future generations.

However, he stressed that inclusion must extend beyond training programmes and empowerment announcements to provide practical access to resources and markets.

“It must mean access to the tools, institutions and markets that enable people to convert their skills into sustainable income,” he said.

The Vice-President commended Aspire Women Forum founder, Dr Zainab Marwa, and its partners for organising the masterclass.

Earlier, Marwa said many Nigerians worked long hours farming, sewing, processing food, producing goods and providing services but retained little income monthly.

She attributed the challenge partly to poor record-keeping, lack of business registration, unsuitable financing, weak packaging and limited access to buyers.

Marwa commended the Federal Government for supporting enterprise and economic inclusion through the Renewed Hope Agenda.

She cited intervention financing for small businesses through the Bank of Industry and government attention to skills development and digital enterprise.

She said the masterclass was designed to help participants understand and access such opportunities.

Marwa disclosed that the forum had extended participation to young men alongside women and young women, recognising that unstable incomes affected entire households.

She reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to women’s advancement and said engagement with participants would continue beyond the masterclass.

According to her, a dedicated Aspire team would provide ongoing communication, referrals and further learning opportunities.

Marwa thanked Shettima for the support his office provided to the initiative.

She also acknowledged Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, whose meeting with her in Geneva strengthened her resolve.

She further commended Dr Queen Onyinye Okpa, founder of Women in Agribusiness, Trade and Export (WATEX), and other supporters.