Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that sustainable national prosperity in Nigeria must be built on productive enterprise, investment, innovation, and the capacity of Nigerians to create value. This statement was made during his keynote address at the Aspire Women Forum masterclass, themed "From Survival to Thriving: Empowering Women and Youth for Export Readiness, Global Market Access and Prosperity under the Renewed Hope Agenda". The event was held at the Conference Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Vice President, represented by Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, Inna Binta Audu, emphasized that transitioning from survival to thriving is not only a personal aspiration but also an economic imperative and a national development priority. He commended the Aspire Women Forum for the masterclass and its founder, Dr. Zainab Marwa, for their efforts in empowering women and youth.
According to Shettima, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration is anchored on the conviction that sustainable national prosperity must be built on productive enterprise, investment, innovation, and the capacity of Nigerians to create value. The Vice President noted that the ambition to build a one-trillion-dollar economy cannot be realized by the government alone and requires an ecosystem in which businesses can emerge, grow, compete, and contribute to national development.
Shettima stressed that women and young people must occupy a central place in this ecosystem, as their economic participation expands the country's productive capacity, strengthens household incomes, creates employment, and widens opportunities for future generations. He emphasized that inclusion must mean more than access to training programs or empowerment initiatives; it must mean access to tools, institutions, and markets that enable people to convert their skills into sustainable income.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), also addressed the event, charging women and young Nigerians to guard their health, judgment, and trade integrity against illicit drugs. Marwa warned that no promised payment is worth the price of being used by traffickers and urged participants to be practical, resilient, and disciplined in their pursuit of business and export readiness.
Marwa noted that opportunity is growing under the Renewed Hope Agenda, but seizing it requires skills, supportive institutions, discipline, and sound choices. He warned about the threat of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, which can destroy ambition, and assured those struggling with drug dependence that seeking help is an act of courage, not shame. Marwa also pledged NDLEA's readiness to partner with the Aspire Women Forum through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy.
Founder and President of Aspire Women Forum, Zainab Marwa, welcomed participants to the masterclass, noting that many Nigerians produce, sell, and provide services but finish the month with little left due to practical gaps such as poor record-keeping and limited access to buyers. Marwa commended the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu for supporting enterprise and economic inclusion through the Renewed Hope Agenda and disclosed that the Forum had extended participation to youths, including young men, alongside women and young women.
Key points
- Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasizes the importance of productive enterprise in achieving sustainable national prosperity.
- The Aspire Women Forum masterclass aims to empower women and youth for export readiness, global market access, and prosperity under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
- NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), warns participants about the threat of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
