Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians living abroad, particularly in the United States, to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu in transforming the country's economic fortunes. He made the call during an interactive session with the Nigerian diaspora community in New York at the Nigeria House. Shettima emphasized that the administration is working to reposition the economy, focusing on education, health, science and technology, and agriculture.
Shettima highlighted the administration's efforts to leverage the intellect of the diaspora community, which he described as "the greatest resource of the future." He expressed confidence in the capacity and intellect of Nigerian citizens to harness the nation's potentials and take it to greater heights. The vice-president also spoke about the reforms undertaken by the current administration, citing President Tinubu's courageous decisions that have contributed to the country's economic repositioning.
According to Shettima, President Tinubu has been courageous from the onset, taking bold decisions that have started to yield tangible results. He noted that the country's foreign reserves have increased from $3.9 billion to over $55 billion, and the economy experienced 4.45 per cent growth in the last quarter. These improvements, he added, would guarantee the safety of diaspora remittances, stability of the exchange rate, and investments made by Nigerians in the diaspora.
The vice-president emphasized that the administration is determined to redefine the meaning of modern governance, given the trajectory of global growth facing Africa and Nigeria's role in the emerging era. He expressed optimism that investment confidence is returning to Nigeria, citing the Dangote Refinery success story as a manifestation of this trend. Shettima assured that Nigeria is open for business, despite negative stories on social media.
Shettima also discussed the introduction of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, which has provided access to N125 billion for over 1.29 million Nigerian students in tertiary institutions since its inception. He addressed security challenges, stating that the administration is deploying all means at its disposal to contain emerging challenges. The vice-president urged concerned citizens to strive for a united and prosperous nation.
The interactive session with the Nigerian diaspora community in New York was attended by notable figures, including Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno State and others. Shettima's message to the diaspora community was one of unity and cooperation, emphasizing that whatever binds Nigerians together supersedes their differences. He encouraged them to support the administration's efforts to transform the country's economy.
The vice-president's engagement with the diaspora community reflects the administration's efforts to engage with Nigerians abroad and tap into their expertise and resources. The call for support and cooperation from the diaspora community is seen as a strategic move to foster a sense of ownership and inclusiveness in the country's economic transformation efforts.
Key points
- The administration aims to leverage the intellect of the diaspora community to drive economic growth.
- The country's foreign reserves have increased from $3.9 billion to over $55 billion.
- Over 1.29 million Nigerian students have had access to N125 billion through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.
