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Tag: Shettima

  • We’re unleashing Nigerians’ innovative spirit, says Shettima

    We’re unleashing Nigerians’ innovative spirit, says Shettima

    • VP inaugurates Fed Govt’s ultra-modern ICT hub, two state aircraft in Cross River  

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is helping Nigerians to unleash their innovative spirit and boost the economy.

    Shettima said this yesterday while inaugurating the Federal Government’s ultra-modern Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Hub for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    “At the core of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is a commitment to create an environment where MSMEs not only survive but thrive. We are here to build an ecosystem that eases the struggles of our entrepreneurs, fuels creativity, and unleashes the innovative spirit of our people,” Shettima said.

    The Vice President also inaugurated the newly refurbished State Library Complex that houses the facility.

    The ICT hub, he said, was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pledge to support ventures that “dare to redefine the future of work, skills, and industries in Nigeria”.

    Shettima also inaugurated two newly acquired 100-seater Bombardier CRJ1000 jets for Cally Air, the state-owned airline, and launched the eighth Expanded National MSME Clinics in Cross River State, where outstanding small business owners received N250,000 each in unconditional grants.

    In a statement in Abuja by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, VP Shettima said: “This is not a loan. It is a gift to accelerate your journey.”

    Read Also: Shettima commissions FGs ultra-modern ICT hub, two state aircraft in Cross River

    The Vice President explained that the initiative brings government agencies, such as the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Bank of Industry (BoI), and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN) directly to the doorstep of entrepreneurs to resolve challenges on the spot.

    He highlighted other interventions under the Tinubu administration, including the N75 billion MSME Intervention Fund managed by the BoI, the N50 billion Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme for one million nano-businesses, and the N75 billion Manufacturers’ Fund offering up to N1 billion at nine  per cent interest.

    Shettima said no nation can prosper beyond the potential of its small businesses, adding that the inauguration of the ICT hub “is our investment in tomorrow” in a digital era where technology is “a lifeline, not a luxury”.

    Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu applauded the Federal Government’s reforms and pledged the state’s continued support for them.

    The governor noted that the Tinubu administration was “building a formidable economy that will stand the test of time”.

    The Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, reaffirmed the President’s unwavering support for small businesses, while the Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, described the clinic as a unique initiative for transforming entrepreneurs’ ideas into viable enterprises.

  • Shettima urges investors to seize opportunities at Ota investment summit

    Shettima urges investors to seize opportunities at Ota investment summit

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment and driving Nigeria’s industrial growth.

    He spoke at the ongoing Ota Investment Summit and Trade Fair with the theme: “Industrial Revolution: Potentials and Opportunities from Ota to the rest of the world.”

    Addressing captains of industry, investors and other stakeholders, Shettima said the administration of President Bola Tinubu recognises Ota as a key hub for Nigeria’s manufacturing and industrial sectors.

    Shettima, who was represented by Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, said: “Ota happens to be one of the cities with the highest concentration of industrial and manufacturing companies in Nigeria, and we are proud of that,” he said. “We take business, economic development, and GDP growth very seriously.”

    He commended the organisers of the summit for providing a platform to project Ota’s industrial potential to the global stage, noting that the event aligns with the government’s broader agenda to reposition the economy through diversification, technology, and private sector-led growth.

    Shettima highlighted the Tinubu administration’s bold reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the rationalisation of the foreign exchange regime, as strategic moves to unshackle the economy from inefficiencies.

    Read Also: Shettima leads presidential delegation to Audu Ogbe’s family

    According to him, recent GDP rebasing, which now captures sectors such as the digital economy, creative industries, and agribusiness, has placed Nigeria’s economic size at ₦373 trillion — a development he described as a “paradigm shift” and clear evidence of a more dynamic, diversified economy.

    “This new data is a compelling signal to both local and foreign investors that Nigeria is a significantly larger and more formidable economic force than previously imagined,” Shettima said.

    He called on industrialists and investors to take advantage of emerging opportunities in advanced manufacturing, green energy, and agribusiness, stressing that the Renewed Hope Agenda is targeting a $1 trillion economy.

    “The private sector is not just a partner in this journey; it is a principal architect of the future we envision. This is the moment to invest boldly, innovate relentlessly, and collaborate strategically,” he said.

    Shettima described the Ota Investment Summit and Fair as a critical platform for building partnerships that will drive industrialisation, job creation, and sustainable development across Nigeria.

    Olota of Ota Aworiland, Professor Adeyemi Obalanlege described Ota as the “cradle of Awori civilisation” and the heartbeat of Ogun State’s industrial success, noting its strategic location near Lagos, the Apapa Port, and major highways, which makes it the gateway to West Africa.

    With more than 500 registered companies across diverse sectors, the monarch said Ota’s industrial belt is the product of decades of strategic investment and entrepreneurial vision.

    He urged the Federal and State Governments to prioritise road rehabilitation, reliable electricity, modern logistics, and investor-friendly policies to attract more capital inflows.             

    ”  Revitalising Ota is vital to realising Nigeria’s trillion-dollar ambition,” Obalanlege said, adding that improved infrastructure could boost manufacturing output, create jobs, expand SMEs into regional value chains, and increase tax    revenues.                    

    Chairman of Ado Odo/Ota Local Government, Wasiu Lawal said that the government is putting in place the needed infrastructure and environment that will help to galvanized growth and development across Ota areas, adding that ongoing road construction from Ojuore to Covenant area will be concluded in few months.

    The summit, which draws policymakers, industrialists, and entrepreneurs, aims to strengthen partnerships, attract fresh investments, and position Ota as a vanguard of Nigeria’s new industrial revolution.

  • Shettima leads presidential delegation to Audu Ogbe’s family

    Shettima leads presidential delegation to Audu Ogbe’s family

    Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday described the late former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, as one of Nigeria’s most visionary leaders whose contributions to food security will remain indelibly etched in the nation’s development history.

    Shettima, who led President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s delegation on a condolence visit to the Ogbe family in Abuja, said the passing of the elder statesman at 78 was “an irreparable loss to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation drive and national development trajectory.”

    In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said, “We are here at the behest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to convey our heartfelt condolences to the family, the government, and people of Benue State over the sad demise of our elder statesman, Chief Audu Ogbe.

    “We have not just lost a former minister; we have lost an irreplaceable institution whose vision and pragmatic approach to agricultural development transformed the landscape of our farming communities”, the Vice President said.

    Eulogising the late politician, who died peacefully on Saturday, Shettima described him as a transformational leader whose impact transcended political affiliations and regional boundaries, adding that his work offered a blueprint for sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.

    “He was a most committed advocate of agricultural transformation who endeared himself to many with his wisdom, pragmatism, and genuine concern for the well-being of farming families. His demise represents a collective loss to our entire agricultural ecosystem”, Shettima said.

    The Vice President highlighted Ogbe’s integrity, dedication, and unwavering commitment to rural development, noting that millions of farming households benefited from his initiatives and vision.

    Read Also: 1,000 groups endorse Tinubu/Shettima’s ticket for 2027

    Offering prayers for the repose of the deceased’s soul, Shettima expressed confidence that Ogbe’s example would continue to inspire future generations of agricultural practitioners and policymakers.

    “We are comforted by the many lives he touched and the enduring example he set. His legacy of integrity, service, and dedication to our nation will continue to guide our agricultural transformation efforts.

    “I pray that Almighty Allah will forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. May Allah also grant the family, the government and people of Benue State, and indeed the entire nation, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”, he said.

    Chief Audu Ogbe, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party and stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, served in several capacities in government, including as Minister of Communications in the Second Republic and Minister of Agriculture under President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • 1,000 groups endorse Tinubu/Shettima’s ticket for 2027

    1,000 groups endorse Tinubu/Shettima’s ticket for 2027

    Over 1,000 organisations, under the Northern Progressives Coalition (NPC), representing a broad spectrum of democratic forces across Nigeria’s 19 Northern States, convened on Abuja on Thursday to deliver a resounding endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for re-election in 2027.

    NPC Convener Usman Abdullahi declared the Tinubu-Shettima administration as the “most dependable leadership” in Nigeria’s 65 years of independence, crediting it with sparking a “socio-political renaissance” that has significantly uplifted Northern Nigeria through targeted reforms and inclusive policies.

    Addressing traditional rulers, political leaders, civil society representatives, women, youth coalitions, and the broader Northern populace, Abdullahi highlighted the administration’s transformative impact in addressing decades-long challenges, including systemic underdevelopment, political marginalisation, economic disenfranchisement, and infrastructure neglect.

    “For too long, the North has been depicted in sterile data that fails to capture the harsh realities from Bauchi to Zamfara, Taraba to Sokoto,” he said.

    “Yet, in less than two years, Tinubu and Shettima have brought a ray of hope, delivering visionary policies that prioritise the North as a crucial pillar in Nigeria’s national architecture.”

    The NPC outlined key achievements, emphasising unprecedented Northern representation in federal appointments.

    “For the first time, Northern technocrats occupy strategic portfolios in security, commerce, oil regulation, and education reform, not as tokens but as co-architects of Nigeria’s renaissance,” Abdullahi stated.

    Notable initiatives include the commissioning of an advanced oncology center in Katsina under a national cancer care expansion policy, reducing the need for Northern cancer patients to travel to Lagos or Abuja for treatment.

    “The National Student Loan Scheme, financing over 396,000 students, has seen Northern students account for 55% of beneficiaries, receiving over N45 billion of the N77 billion disbursed by the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

    “Education reforms have been a cornerstone, with over 120 learning centers established across Northern senatorial districts, equipped with solar power and safe water systems. The partnership with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has revitalized 101 Almajiri and Tsangaya education centers in states like Bauchi, Niger, Kaduna, and Kano. 

    “The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE) has drafted a national policy, while the proposed Almajiri Health Scheme aims to provide health insurance to enrolled children, aligning education with wellness.”

    Infrastructure development was another highlight, with projects like the N740.79 billion Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, the 1,068km Sokoto-Badagry Highway, and the N305 billion Abuja-Lokoja-Benin Road dualization showcasing the administration’s commitment.

    The dredging of the River Niger around Lokoja and the BUA Group-funded Bode Saadu-Kaima-Kosubosu Road further bolster Northern mobility and commerce.

    “These are not mere promises but projects with budgetary backing and visible progress,” Abdullahi noted.The coalition praised the removal of the fuel subsidy, a “painful but necessary sacrifice” that exposed corrupt cabals, unlocking funds for local production and decentralised growth.

    “Tax reforms, including incentives for agro-processors and VAT exemptions for small-scale traders, were hailed as empowering the North’s agricultural base.

    “Empowerment programs under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs have reached grassroots communities in Sokoto, Niger, Kebbi, Taraba, and Yobe, supporting victims of insecurity and fostering economic dignity.”

    Abdullahi argued for continuity, warning that the 2027 election must not be a “year of political experimentation.” He emphasized the need for stability to sustain economic reforms like subsidy removal, naira floatation, and tax restructuring, which require multi-year cycles to yield full benefits.

    “No other president-vice president pairing has understood the North’s developmental needs like Tinubu and Shettima,” he said, praising Shettima’s strategic insight as a former governor and banker.

    The NPC dismissed opposition candidates as lacking vision, accusing them of exploiting the North during elections with “deceitful promises.”

    Read Also: Tinubu mourns Ghanaian ministers killed in helicopter crash

    The coalition proposed recommendations to further progress, including expanding agro-processing zones, institutionalising a Northern Educational Renaissance Scheme under NELFUND, rehabilitating grazing reserves, establishing youth tech hubs, and creating a Northern Women Enterprise Support Fund.

    They also urged tighter oversight of Northern appointees to ensure service-oriented leadership.

    In a rallying call, Abdullahi declared: “The North has suffered enough from political manipulation and economic sabotage. We are no longer at the margins but at the epicenter of governance.”

    The NPC urged Governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and youth to spread the “Renewed Hope for the Northern Renaissance” agenda, advocating for a renewed Tinubu-Shettima mandate in 2027 to secure Nigeria’s and the North’s future prosperity.

  • Shettima, AfDB President, Makinde break ground for Ijaiye agribusiness devt hub

    Shettima, AfDB President, Makinde break ground for Ijaiye agribusiness devt hub

    Vice-President Kashim Shettima, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina and Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, turned the sod for the Oyo State Agribusiness Industrial Hub, Ijaiye, under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone.

    Shettima, who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari and Adesina lauded Governor Makinde for his unwavering commitment and dedication to the development of Oyo State through agriculture and food security.

    Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony held at Atan Village, Ijaiye, Akinyele Local Government, Senator Kyari, while delivering the message of Vice-President Shettima, said the project would unlock vast potentials and create opportunities for Oyo State residents.

    He stressed that the project would also serve as a strategic partnership between the state, other states of the federation and the Federal Government.

    He added that Nigeria’s future as a country lies in transforming agriculture and agribusiness resources into value-added products that would enhance industries, generate employment and uplift the farmers.

    The Vice-President assured that the Federal Government would support Oyo State to become a productive sector and to achieve its full potential as an agriculture hub in the country, appreciating the development partners and stakeholders for their support in laying the foundation for an agro-industrial hub in the state.

    Read Also: Coalition takeover of NEC forceful, illegal, says sole ADC Reps member Abejide

    Makinde said the Ijaiye Agribusiness Industrial Hub would serve as a clear commitment to delivering on the Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development, 2023-2027, in the area of repositioning agriculture as a commercial force creating jobs for youths, attracting investors and sustaining the economy of the state.

    The Governor, who noted that the building of agro-industrial hubs started from Fasola in Oyo zone to Eruwa in Ibarapa zone, assured that before the expiration of his tenure in 2027, he would design and hand over the designs of other agro-industrial hubs in Ipapo, Ilora and Iresa-Adu.

    Stressing the importance of the agribusiness hubs, the governor reckoned that the Fasola Agro-Industrial Hub has changed the local economy of the state from poverty to prosperity, charging the people of Ijaiye community to embrace and support the project.

    He also expressed the confidence that the new agribusiness hub in Ijaiye would also be a success story like that of the Fasola Agribusiness Hub.

    ” that apart from the agro-processing zone, which would bring in foreign direct investments, there is also the Rungis-style wholesale market, which will be located in this area, calling on residents of Akinyele Local Government to guard the additions jealously and not cave in to the antics of land speculators and grabbers.

    Adesina commended Makinde for his exemplary leadership, vision and commitment to transforming the state, describing him as an action governor, while lauding the development of the Fasola Agribusiness Hub.

    He noted that agribusiness is important to drive the economy, reduce post-harvest losses and create job opportunities, commending President Bola Tinubu for his support for the special agro-processing zone initiative.

  • Shettima in Addis Ababa for UN food systems summit

    Shettima in Addis Ababa for UN food systems summit

    • VP donates 2,000 cashew seedlings to Ethiopia
    • Nigeria strengthens ‘Green Revolution Diplomacy’

    Vice President Kashim Shettima at the weekend arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to represent Nigeria at the second United Nations (UN) Food Systems Summit.

    The Vice President, on behalf of Nigeria, donated 2,000 cashew seedlings and 100,000 cashew seeds to Ethiopia as a diplomatic gesture.

    The aircraft conveying him landed at the Bole International Airport at 4:26 p.m. local time. He was warmly received by Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh and senior Nigerian officials, including Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia, Ambassador Nasir Aminu.

    Others at the airport included the Finance Attaché, Dr. Suleiman Dauda; the Deputy Defence Attaché (Air Force), Wing Commander Gabriel Batubo; Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador Macy Ogbede, and First Secretary, Mr. Jangado Ishaku.

    Shortly after his arrival, the Vice President held a strategy meeting with members of the Nigerian delegation, including the Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture and Executive Secretary of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU), Marion Moon.

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, said Shettima was briefed on Nigeria’s expected deliverables and engagements at the high-level summit.

    Read Also: Shettima assures UI of support to remain ‘first and best’ status

    The Vice President is scheduled to join global leaders for critical sessions on transforming the coffee value chain and will participate in roundtables and other strategic meetings aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s food systems and agricultural resilience.

    The summit, which started yesterday, will end tomorrow. It serves as a global stocktake on the progress made since the inaugural 2021 Food Systems Summit and is expected to galvanise renewed commitments towards inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems.

    Nigeria’s agenda at the summit, as outlined by the Vice President during a pre-summit briefing in Abuja, focuses on three strategic objectives: positioning Nigeria as a leader in African food systems reform, aligning global partnerships with local agricultural priorities, and championing a private sector-led transformation model for food security across the continent.

    Also, in a major gesture of bilateral agricultural cooperation, Nigeria presented Ethiopia with 2,000 cashew seedlings and 100,000 cashew seeds, sufficient to cover an estimated 600 hectares of farmland.

    The donation was received by Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr. Efa Muleta Boru, and follows Ethiopia’s earlier donation of 2,000 Haas avocado seedlings and 2,000 coffee seedlings to Nigeria in June 2025.

    The seedling exchange underscores a growing partnership between the two African giants and aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agricultural transformation plan, anchored on what officials have termed “Green Revolution Diplomacy” — using agricultural collaboration as a platform for strengthening diplomatic ties and confronting shared food security challenges.

    Vice President Shettima is also expected to participate in ministerial roundtables on public finance, trade, and responsible investment, alongside field trips and networking sessions that showcase innovative and scalable food systems solutions.

  • Shettima departs for Addis Ababa to represent Nigeria at UN food systems summit

    Shettima departs for Addis Ababa to represent Nigeria at UN food systems summit

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he will represent Nigeria at the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit holding from July 27 to 29, 2025.

    The high-level summit, convened in collaboration with the governments of Ethiopia and Italy, and the United Nations, will bring together world leaders to assess progress since the inaugural 2021 edition and to chart pathways for building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable global food systems.

    Vice President Shettima is expected to join other heads of state and senior officials in discussions focused on transforming critical value chains, including an emphasis on the coffee industry, as well as advancing Nigeria’s ongoing food security and agricultural innovation agenda.

    According to a statement issued on Sunday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Senator Shettima will also participate in several ministerial roundtables and side events, including one on public finance, trade, and responsible investment for accelerating agricultural transitions.

    Read Also: Education under Renewed Hope Agenda undergoing transformation – Shettima

    Additional engagements include knowledge-sharing platforms, field trips, and networking sessions aimed at promoting partnerships and evidence-based solutions.

    At a recent strategy briefing by Nigeria’s Task Force on the UN Food Systems Summit, Vice President Shettima identified three key objectives for Nigeria’s delegation: to position the country as a thought leader on food systems reform in Africa; to align international partnerships with Nigeria’s domestic priorities; and to promote a private sector-led model for agricultural transformation across the continent.

    The summit is expected to inspire renewed commitment among participating nations to build sustainable food systems that can withstand climate shocks, ensure nutrition, and reduce hunger worldwide.

    Vice President Shettima is scheduled to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of the summit’s activities.

  • Shettima assures UI of support to remain ‘first and best’ status

    Shettima assures UI of support to remain ‘first and best’ status

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured that he will support the University of Ibadan to remain the first and the best university in Nigeria and to reclaim its glory globally.

    He gave this assurance while receiving the management team of the university led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. 

    The team was there to decorate Shettima as UI@75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary.

    The Vice President acknowledged that UI is the greatest citadel of learning in Nigeria and West Africa. 

    He recalled in his days as a postgraduate student of the institution, the university had students from all over Africa who came to obtain UI degrees, adding that the university has produced many icons. 

    He reiterated the Federal Government’s unfaltering decision to reposition Nigeria’s education sector, affirming that the administration of President Bola Tinubu will mobilise both public and private sector support to reposition higher institutions of learning, particularly the University of Ibadan, being Nigeria’s premier university.

    He expressed profound delight at the honour bestowed on him by the university, stating that he will gladly display the plaque in his office as a warm reminder of his staunch affiliation to the university. 

    The Vice Chancellor said he led the special team from the university to perform the significant task which commemorates the 75th anniversary of the UI, restating that the university was established in 1948 and had turned 75 years on 17 November, 2023. 

    Professor Adebowale explained that the University through its UI@75 Committee decided to mark the landmark anniversary by carefully selecting notable Alumni of the University who have made invaluable impact and contributed significantly to the advancement of the cause of humanity.

    Read Also: Nana Shettima glows at 50

    He stated that the University had earlier designated many alumni as UI@75 Ambassadors while notable friends and eminent personalities who are not Alumni of the University were designated as UI@75 Ambassadors Extraordinaire.

    He disclosed that the Vice President is the only alumnus of the university designated as

    UI@75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary, the highest alumnus honour conferred.

    The Registrar, Mr. Ganiyu Saliu, decorated the Vice President, on behalf of Council, Senate, staff, and students of the University, and presented a plaque to the honouree. 

    On the Vice Chancellor’s entourage were the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Peter Olapegba the Registrar, Mr Ganiyu Saliu, Director of the Office of Alumni Relations, Professor Olakunbi Olasope; a Faculty member, Dr Babatunde Blavo; Mr Oladayo Olajide, and Mr Adeniyi Adebayo of the Directorate of Public Communication.

  • Education under Renewed Hope Agenda undergoing transformation – Shettima

    Education under Renewed Hope Agenda undergoing transformation – Shettima

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to revamping Nigeria’s education sector through increased public and private sector support, describing the sector as critical to national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Speaking on Thursday at the State House, Abuja, during a courtesy visit by the University of Ibadan’s management team, Vice President Shettima declared that the government would continue to mobilise resources to strengthen tertiary education, with particular attention to institutions like the University of Ibadan (UI), Nigeria’s premier university.

    “We are going to mobilise resources from both the private and public sectors to ensure that UI and other universities in the country succeed,” Shettima said, while also receiving the university’s highest alumni honour — the UI at 75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary award.

    This was contained in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha.

     The Vice President, who earned a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the institution in 1991, praised the university as the greatest citadel of learning in West Africa and recalled its past international stature.

    Read Also: Customs issues 21-day ultimatum to tap defaulters over N379.6bn bond breach

    “Ibadan is certainly the greatest citadel of learning in this country and in West Africa. When we were there, we had students from South Africa, Namibia, and even the Caribbean. There was a time when the King of Saudi Arabia was sick and he was recommended for treatment at the University College Hospital, Ibadan”, he said.

     He stressed that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is focused on educational reform, citing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a groundbreaking initiative to assist indigent students.

    “Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are determined to rescue the educational sector. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund is the first of its kind, directly addressing the needs of underprivileged students,” he added.

    On the broader economic outlook, the Vice President struck an optimistic tone, declaring that Nigeria had moved past the most difficult phase of recent economic challenges.

    “Our economy has turned the corner, we have crossed the Rubicon, and we are on the path to sustained economic growth. The tax revenue of the government has steadily increased. The President is an economic guru who understands the language of commerce and is completely at home in the economic ecosystem”, he said.

     Earlier in his remarks, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, said the decision to name Vice President Shettima the UI at 75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary was historic and unprecedented.

    “You are a foremost alumnus of the University of Ibadan — the first and the best. We honoured some of the alumni as UI at 75 Ambassadors, those who are friends of the university, and we made them Ambassadors Extraordinary. But for the position you have assumed and being an alumnus of our university, we exceptionally put you in a class and decided to induct you as UI at 75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary. You will be the only person to be so awarded”, Professor Adebowale said.

     He noted that the honour recognises the Vice President’s outstanding contributions in both the public and private sectors — spanning banking, governance, and national leadership.

    “We came here to honour one of our own; someone who has contributed in the banking sector, as Governor of Borno State, and now as Vice President of Nigeria,” he added.

     Accompanying the Vice Chancellor were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba; Registrar, Mr. Ganiyu Oke Saliu; Director of Alumni Relations, Professor Olakunbi O. Olasope; Lecturer in the Department of Classics, Babatunde Blavo; and Mr. Oladayo Olajide from the Directorate of Public Communications.

  • Education under Renewed Hope Agenda undergoing transformation – Shettima

    Education under Renewed Hope Agenda undergoing transformation – Shettima

    …as University of Ibadan honours him as sole ambassador plenipotentiary

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to revamping Nigeria’s education sector through increased public and private sector support, describing the sector as critical to national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Speaking on Thursday at the State House, Abuja, during a courtesy visit by the University of Ibadan’s management team, Vice President Shettima declared that the government would continue to mobilise resources to strengthen tertiary education, with particular attention to institutions like the University of Ibadan (UI), Nigeria’s premier university.

    “We are going to mobilise resources from both the private and public sectors to ensure that UI and other universities in the country succeed,” Shettima said, while also receiving the university’s highest alumni honour — the UI at 75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary award.

    READ ALSO: FG applauds Owolabi Salis as first Nigerian to travel to space and return

    This was contained in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha.

    The Vice President, who earned a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the institution in 1991, praised the university as the greatest citadel of learning in West Africa and recalled its past international stature.

    “Ibadan is certainly the greatest citadel of learning in this country and in West Africa. When we were there, we had students from South Africa, Namibia, and even the Caribbean. There was a time when the King of Saudi Arabia was sick and he was recommended for treatment at the University College Hospital, Ibadan”, he said.

    He stressed that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is focused on educational reform, citing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a groundbreaking initiative to assist indigent students.

    “Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are determined to rescue the educational sector. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund is the first of its kind, directly addressing the needs of underprivileged students,” he added.

    On the broader economic outlook, the Vice President struck an optimistic tone, declaring that Nigeria had moved past the most difficult phase of recent economic challenges.

    “Our economy has turned the corner, we have crossed the Rubicon, and we are on the path to sustained economic growth. The tax revenue of the government has steadily increased. The President is an economic guru who understands the language of commerce and is completely at home in the economic ecosystem”, he said.

    Earlier in his remarks, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, said the decision to name Vice President Shettima the UI at 75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary was historic and unprecedented.

    “You are a foremost alumnus of the University of Ibadan — the first and the best. We honoured some of the alumni as UI at 75 Ambassadors, those who are friends of the university, and we made them Ambassadors Extraordinary. But for the position you have assumed and being an alumnus of our university, we exceptionally put you in a class and decided to induct you as UI at 75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary. You will be the only person to be so awarded”, Professor Adebowale said.

    He noted that the honour recognises the Vice President’s outstanding contributions in both the public and private sectors — spanning banking, governance, and national leadership.

    “We came here to honour one of our own; someone who has contributed in the banking sector, as Governor of Borno State, and now as Vice President of Nigeria,” he added.

    Accompanying the Vice Chancellor were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba; Registrar, Mr. Ganiyu Oke Saliu; Director of Alumni Relations, Professor Olakunbi O. Olasope; Lecturer in the Department of Classics, Babatunde Blavo; and Mr. Oladayo Olajide from the Directorate of Public Communications.