The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Shettima

  • Shettima eyes trillion-dollar economy in 10 years

    Shettima eyes trillion-dollar economy in 10 years

    • Inaugurates innovation committee

    Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday inaugurated the Interministerial Committee on Research and Innovation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, tasking its members with laying the foundation for an innovation-driven Nigerian economy projected to reach the trillion-dollar mark within the next decade.

    Describing the initiative as a strategic pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the Vice President said the committee is designed to coordinate research and investment across five transformative sectors: agriculture and climate resilience, manufacturing, healthcare, natural resources, and energy.

    In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima charged members of the committee to ensure food security in Nigeria, energy security to power the economy and break the nation’s dependence on imports.

    He also said the committee is part of ongoing efforts by the administration to pool intellectual and financial capital to “create the cockpit from which Nigeria’s innovation economy will be piloted.”

    “We are here to breathe life not into this Committee, but into a bold mission: to build Nigeria into an innovation-driven, trillion-dollar economy within a decade. The future we desire is not something we inherit. It is something we build,” he declared.

    Read Also: Fasoranti applauds Tinubu, backs President’s leadership

    The Vice President observed that innovation is the currency of every civilisation, even as he said, while no society grows by staying the same, Nigeria cannot hope to evolve for the better unless it invests in learning new things, compares what it has with what others nations have, and comparing where it is now with where it wants to be.

    “None of this is possible without research—the mother of all the inventions that have guided humanity through the waves of the Industrial Revolutions. This gathering, therefore, is a declaration of our collective resolve to till the soil, explore the seas, and scout the space of knowledge to understand the consequences of our choices. I am truly inspired by the promise of what we are setting out to achieve here,” he stated.

    On the committee’s terms of reference, VP Shettima said the committee is to coordinate action in five strategic sectors with the power to transform society.

    He listed the committee to include “Agriculture and Climate Resilience, where research innovation must feed our people and protect our planet; Manufacturing Excellence, where we break our dependency on imports and build proudly Nigerian supply chains; Healthcare Innovation, where we shift from importing medicines to exporting medical breakthroughs; Natural Resource Optimisation, where we stop selling raw materials and start exporting ingenuity; and Energy Security, where we power our economy and secure our future.”

    The Vice President explained that a major target for setting up the committee is to reduce Nigeria’s food import bill by 50 per cent, maintaining that “in each of these areas, we will pursue missions, not just metrics.

    “We will not be content with data for dashboards—we want deliverables that change lives. What will it take to reduce our food import bill by 50%? How do we triple local pharmaceutical production? Let us align policy, research, and investment to answer these questions and achieve measurable, meaningful outcomes,” he added.

    Senator Shettima disclosed that the committee is a prelude to a Presidential Plenary on Innovation approved by President Tinubu, saying the high-level plenary, which will be held annually, will be presided over by the President himself.

    “This Committee is only the beginning. His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved a Presidential Plenary on Innovation—an annual high-level forum that will bring together academia, research institutes, industry, civil society, and the Nigerian people to align our national innovation priorities.

    “This Plenary will be addressed by Mr President himself, because innovation is a presidential area of priority. It is central to his vision for a new Nigeria,” the VP explained.

    Earlier, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Mr Uche Nnaji, who commended the leadership provided by the Vice President and the commitment of the relevant ministries, departments and agencies, noted that collaboration was critical in the renewed vigour to prioritise research and innovation.

    The minister said the inter-ministerial committee would help the country save scarce resources and move faster in the right direction, by harmonising efforts, human and material resources for the purpose of enhancing research and innovation across critical sectors of the economy.

    “The keyword here is collaboration. We have been spending a lot of money on our various ministries, duplicating our functions. I believe that with this collaboration and this committee here, we will save a lot of money for the government and reduce duplication,” the Minister said.

  • Shettima inaugurates innovation committee

    Shettima inaugurates innovation committee

    …sets sights on trillion-dollar Nigerian economy in 10 years

    Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday inaugurated the Interministerial Committee on Research and Innovation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, tasking its members with laying the foundation for an innovation-driven Nigerian economy projected to reach the trillion-dollar mark within the next decade.

    Describing the initiative as a strategic pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the Vice President said the committee is designed to coordinate research and investment across five transformative sectors: agriculture and climate resilience, manufacturing, healthcare, natural resources, and energy.

    In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima charged members of the committee to ensure food security in Nigeria, energy security to power the economy, and break the nation’s dependence on imports.

    He also said the committee is part of ongoing efforts by the administration to pool intellectual and financial capital to “create the cockpit from which Nigeria’s innovation economy will be piloted.”

    “We are here to breathe life not into this Committee, but into a bold mission: to build Nigeria into an innovation-driven, trillion-dollar economy within a decade. The future we desire is not something we inherit. It is something we build,” he declared.

    The Vice President observed that innovation is the currency of every civilisation, even as he said, while no society grows by staying the same, Nigeria cannot hope to evolve for the better unless it invests in learning new things, compares what it has with what others nations have, and comparing where it is now with where it wants to be.

    “None of this is possible without research—the mother of all the inventions that have guided humanity through the waves of the Industrial Revolutions. This gathering, therefore, is a declaration of our collective resolve to till the soil, explore the seas, and scout the space of knowledge to understand the consequences of our choices. I am truly inspired by the promise of what we are setting out to achieve here,” he stated.

    On the committee’s terms of reference, VP Shettima said the committee is to coordinate action in five strategic sectors with the power to transform society.

    Read Also: Shettima urges MDAs, PEBEC to collaborate

    He listed the committee to include “Agriculture and Climate Resilience, where research innovation must feed our people and protect our planet; Manufacturing Excellence, where we break our dependency on imports and build proudly Nigerian supply chains; Healthcare Innovation, where we shift from importing medicines to exporting medical breakthroughs; Natural Resource Optimisation, where we stop selling raw materials and start exporting ingenuity; and Energy Security, where we power our economy and secure our future.”

    The Vice President explained that a major target for setting up the committee is to reduce Nigeria’s food import bill by 50 per cent, maintaining that “in each of these areas, we will pursue missions, not just metrics.

    “We will not be content with data for dashboards—we want deliverables that change lives. What will it take to reduce our food import bill by 50%? How do we triple local pharmaceutical production? Let us align policy, research, and investment to answer these questions and achieve measurable, meaningful outcomes,” he added.

    Senator Shettima disclosed that the committee is a prelude to a Presidential Plenary on Innovation approved by President Tinubu, saying the high-level plenary, which will be held annually, will be presided over by the President himself.

    “This Committee is only the beginning. His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved a Presidential Plenary on Innovation—an annual high-level forum that will bring together academia, research institutes, industry, civil society, and the Nigerian people to align our national innovation priorities.

    “This Plenary will be addressed by Mr President himself, because innovation is a presidential area of priority. It is central to his vision for a new Nigeria,” the VP explained.

    Earlier, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Mr Uche Nnaji, who commended the leadership provided by the Vice President and the commitment of the relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, noted that collaboration was critical in the renewed vigour to prioritise research and innovation.

    The minister said the inter-ministerial committee would help the country save scarce resources and move faster in the right direction, by harmonising efforts, human and material resources for the purpose of enhancing research and innovation across critical sectors of the economy.

    “The keyword here is collaboration. We have been spending a lot of money on our various ministries, duplicating our functions. I believe that with this collaboration and this committee here, we will save a lot of money for the government and reduce duplication,” the Minister said.

    Also present at the inauguration were the ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari; Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani; Alhaji Balarabe Lawal; Alhaji Idi Mukhtar and representatives of the Ministers of Education, Budget and Economic Planning, and Foreign Affairs, among other members of the committee.

  • Shettima urges MDAs, PEBEC to collaborate

    Shettima urges MDAs, PEBEC to collaborate

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government  as well as  the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC)  to deepen interagency collaboration in order to foster  a more   conducive business environment .

    He said the  administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained  resolute in its commitment to the eight-point Renewed Hope Agenda.

    The agenda, according to him, is    central to a robust, streamlined business environment that supports the ease of doing business.

    Shettima,  at the closing   of a PEBEC retreat for MDA heads and Reform Champions in Abuja  yesterday , emphasised that Nigeria’s economic future hinges on the ability of public institutions to work together seamlessly.

    “This retreat was convened by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), an institution I am privileged to chair, not just to review reform progress, but to deepen something even more critical: synergy,’’ he said in a statement  by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha.

    Read Also: CBEX: Why Nigerians will always fall for Ponzi schemes

      Shettima also  noted that the goal is to make sure Nigeria remained  an attractive destination for investors.

    He  said: “The business of government is too complex to be solved in silos. We cannot afford the luxury of working in isolation, while the problems we are tasked to solve are increasingly intertwined.

    “What PEBEC has demonstrated since its inception is that collaborative governance works. It has brought together MDAs with overlapping mandates and divergent processes and shown that when there is shared vision and collective will, we can simplify procedures, harmonise timelines, and build trust in our institutions.”

    The Vice- President told the  participants that the decisions reached during  the retreat must “reflect a commitment to collaboration, innovation, and interagency progress, translating into measurable improvements in how the government serves the people of Nigeria.”

    This, he said, can only be achieved through trust.

    Shettima declared that the era of buck-passing on the mandates of government was over, adding that it was time to end the bureaucratic challenges.

    He added:  “The time for bureaucratic turf wars is over. Nigeria’s economic and social future depends on what we, the stewards of public institutions, choose to do today.

    “Our citizens are watching. Our investors are waiting. And time is not on our side. We must move from policy to performance. From ambition to execution. From silos to synergy. This retreat and further engagements must birth a culture of action, accountability, and cross-agency collaboration.

    “Our people deserve efficient, transparent, and responsive public institutions. Whether they are trying to register a business, clear cargo, obtain a regulatory permit, or access a government service, they must not be lost in a maze of red tape. We must collectively simplify processes, eliminate duplication, and leverage technology to improve transparency and turnaround times”.

     Shettima further urged heads of MDAs to prioritise joint planning, data sharing, and common KPIs where their work intersects, just as he enjoined them to break what he described as the culture of “this is not my mandate.” 

    “Let us embrace interagency task teams for critical reforms, rather than rely on isolated mandates. Where conflicts arise, resolve them through dialogue. Where gaps exist, close them with innovation. And where progress is made, institutionalise it. This is how we build a government that works, not in fragments, but in sync.”

  • Shettima applauds Gov Eno’s investment in human capital development

    Shettima applauds Gov Eno’s investment in human capital development

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has applauded the investments in human capital development by Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, saying he is worthy of emulation.

    In his speech at the launch of the ARISE Human Capital Development Strategic Plan at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Uyo, Shettima noted that investment in human capital development surpasses every form of investment. 

    “That is why I commend Akwa Ibom, not only for your outstanding performance, but for daring to dream bigger. 

    “With an under-five mortality rate of 80, compared to the national average of 110, and with only 3.5% of primary school-age children out of school—far below the national average of 25.6%—your state is not merely compliant with our national vision. You are ahead of the curve. And I assure you, the federal government stands ready to partner hand-in-hand with you.

    “This is the Governor in whom the President has a lot of confidence in.

    “Let me therefore commend the Governor and his team, for not only adopting the HCD framework but localizing its operation and placing people in the center of public policies. This is leadership, this is what it means to govern with vision, foresight and commitment,” he said. 

    The Vice President said the National Human Capital Development Programme, which has entered its second phase, is a solution  re-engineered to meet the moment. 

    “At its core, HCD 2.0 is about integration and impact. It is built on the foundation of HCD 1.0, but goes further to incorporate cross-cutting themes. What has brought us together in Uyo—the launch of the ARISE Human Capital Development Strategy by His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno—is a template for each state of the federation. It’s a strategy that acknowledges that we can’t build an enduring castle without a solid foundation.

    “What Akwa Ibom State has shown us here isn’t just progress, it is leadership. It has become the first state in the nation to localise the HCD vision in its truest form. While other states have a strategy tailored towards the state, Akwa Ibom has taken a step forward by adopting the strategies in all local government areas.

    Read Also: Shettima graces turbanning of legal icon, Yusuf Ali, in Ilorin

    “We cannot solve what we do not measure. This is why we have launched the HCD Dashboard to monitor these indicators at both state and local levels with precision. We are deploying data not for reports, but for results.

    “I urge every governor to learn from the example set by His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno. There’s no legacy that surpasses that of building our people. There’s no monument that would outlive the legacies of health, education, and opportunity,” he said.

    Eno saluted the Vice President, for the great work done in putting together the building blocks of the ARISE Human Capital Development and Local Government HCD Implementation Roadmap and Strategic Plan, and also leading frontally towards its implementation and delivery.

    He also appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making Human Capital Development a major focal area of his Renewed Hope Agenda, of which, according to him, Akwa Ibom State is a beneficiary.

    The Governor said the Human Capital Development Plan, is also designed to expansively provide key human-centric projects such as healthcare services which the State is currently executing through investments in the construction and equipping of primary healthcare centers, provision of quality education at both the primary and secondary levels, empowerment of  people, and equipping them with requisite skills, knowledge and equipment they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

    He enumerated different efforts of his administration at human capital development to include; establishment of Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre (IBOM-LED) which has trained over 4000 people with start-up grants ranging from N5,000, 00-N750 ,000 , the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, DASAC, where over 400 trainees recently graduated in various areas of skills-set.

    Also in the list included; 16 youths in Toulouse, France for training as pilots with Airbus, 21 engineers who recently came back from training with Ethiopian Airlines and would soon be absorbed by Ibom Air, empowerment of businesses, traders, and farmers with grants worth over N4 billion through Town Square Empowerment Meetings and support for Small and Medium Scale (SMEs), and many others.

    He noted that his people’s first policy which is encapsulated in the government’s ARISE Agenda aligns with that of the federal government and he would do all possible to ensure the HCD programme meets its set target.

  • Shettima launches ARISE human capacity devt strategy plan in A’Ibom

    Shettima launches ARISE human capacity devt strategy plan in A’Ibom

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has launched the ARISE Human Capital Development (HCD) Strategy Plan in Akwa Ibom state.

    Shettima while unveiling the HCD at the banquet of the Government House on Monday urged other states in the country to adopt and localise the programme.

    The VP hailed Governor Umo Eno for the HCD vision, the first of it’s kind in the country, saying that the plan will provide a template for wealth, education, health and human capital development for Akwa Ibom state.

    He said that every policy or programme that intervenes in the lives of our people could only succeed if it is rooted in the grassroots. 

    Shettima added that the national human capital development programme, which has entered it second phase is a solution that has been re-engineered to meet the moment.

    “This is a declaration that true wealth of any nation lies in the certainly of it human capital development the education of it people, the health of it citizens and the productivity of it workforce

    “And what has brought us here to Uyo, the launch of the ARISE human capital development strategy by Governor Umo Eno is a template for states of the federation. 

    “It is a strategy that we cannot build an enduring past without a solid foundation. 

    “What Akwa Ibom has assured us here is not just progress but core leadership. It has become the first state in the nation to localize the HCD vision in it square point,” Shettima said.

    The vice president urged other States of the federation to emulate the Akwa Ibom strategic human capital development plan.

    Shettima commended Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom for his leadership vision in driving the initiative in the state.

    In his remarks, Gov Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom said the programme of human capital development became imperative due to the paucity of trained manpower to address the challenges the world and the nation had faced in the aftermath of COVID-19.

    Eno said that it became necessary and proper for the State Government to strengthen individual and institutional capacities to rise in real time to confront future pandemics.

    “Human Capital Development Plan apart from the the above key area is also designed to expansively provide key human-centric projects such as; healthcare services, which we are currently executing through our investments in the construction and equipping of primary healthcare centres.

    “The provision of quality education at both the primary and secondary levels with the construction and equipping of model primary schools.

    “The planned construction of model secondary schools in three senatorial districts; the empowerment of our people, and equipping them with requisite skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

    “This, we have done with the establishment of Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre (IBOM-LED) which today, has trained over 4, 000 people with start-up grants ranging from N5, 000, 00-N750, 000.

    “The Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC), where we recently graduated over 400 trainees in various areas of marketable and entrepreneurial skills-set. 

    “These 400 graduands who were trained in areas such as ICT, mechanised agriculture, carpentry, fashion design, tourism etc will be further exposed to additional trainings by IBOM-LED in entrepreneurial and other critical skillset,” Eno said.

    The governor commended the administration President Bola Tinubu for this critical initiative, stressing that the President does not play politics with development.

    He said the state was highly appreciative of the Federal Government for selecting Akwa Ibom as the first for the launch of the programme.

    “We are thrilled that our State was selected as the first for the launch of this program. 

    Read Also: Shettima graces turbanning of legal icon, Yusuf Ali, in Ilorin

    “This has further reinforced the fact that the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, does not play politics with development and this we deeply appreciate,” he said.

    In her goodwill message, Mrs Nkechi Obi, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Techno Oil Limited said that there could not be any meaningful development of any society without a deliberate actionable roadmap to address the critical challenges militating against human capital development.

    Obi said that the importance of human capital development to the economic buoyancy of a developing country like Nigeria cannot be overemphasised.

    She said that Techno oil is in the forefront of ensure cleaner, greener safer and more environment friendly cooking for the women by producing quality cooking cylinders for the nation.

    “As a woman, I strongly believe that our women and girls must not cook to die, rather they must cook to live.

    “Techno Oil Limited which has been in business for over two decades is an integrated, wholly indigenous company which today holds a diverse portfolio of prime investment in oil and gas, energy, infrastructure and manufacturing.

    “As a strategic partner committed to the Energy Transition Plan, LPG Utilization and expansion programmes of the Federal Government of Nigeria, 

    “Techno Oil have in operation an Ultra-modern LPG Cylinder Manufacturing Plant with an annual production capacity of five million Cylinders,” Obi said.

    Obi said from 2013 to date, Techno Oil has distributed over 20, 000 units of 6KG LPG cylinders to indigent women in Nigeria as Corporate Social Responsibility, aimed at promoting clean cooking amongst women and girls.

    In his welcome remark, the chairman , Akwa Ibom State Human Capital Development Council, Dr Nathaniel Adiakpan noted that the ARISE Human Capital Development Strategic Plan represents the collective resolve to empower citizens through education, key development and opportunities that foster innovation and creativity.

    Adiakpan said the comprehensive framework is designed to address the unique needs of communities, to ensure that every citizen has resources and support releasing to thrive.

  • Gov Otu, Shettima, Adesina ignite Cross River’s agro-industrial future

    Gov Otu, Shettima, Adesina ignite Cross River’s agro-industrial future

    By Linus Obogo 

    The venue was Tinapa. Both the Aso Rock Villa and Africa Development Bank (AfDB) literally relocated to Calabar, capital of Cross River State. And amid a torrential, thrashing downpour that draped the ceremonial grounds in shimmering veils of rain, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone unfolded like a vivid collage woven with the threads of enduring resolve and impassioned dreams. Each relentless droplet danced in harmony with the determined hearts of dignitaries and visionaries, their voices and aspirations melding with nature’s wild cadence to herald a transformative dawn for Cross River State.

    With poetic precision, and a note of unison, everyone was in concord that Governor Bassey Edet Otu has dismantled outdated paradigms and sculpted an environment where agro-industrial innovation blossoms. His strategic policies are transforming fertile lands into dynamic epicenters of growth, ensuring that every seed sown today will blossom into prosperity tomorrow.

    At the heart of this transformative revolution stands the pioneering Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ), a monument to progress designed under Governor Otu’s judicious stewardship. More than an infrastructure project, SAPZ embodies Otu’s fervent commitment to food security, sustainable growth, and job creation for all.

    In his masterful orchestration of policy and progress, Governor Otu has also made doing business not merely easier, but an art form—a symphony where regulatory barriers defrost into opportunities. His reforms are magnetizing investment and innovation, turning Cross River into a sanctuary for both local entrepreneurs and global investors.

    Vice President Kashim Shettima, addressing the gathering at the groundbreaking ceremony, lauded the SAPZ as a transformative game-changer. His impassioned remarks echoed the collective dreams of a nation poised on the brink of economic revival, resonating with the spirit of collaboration and renewed hope that defines this historic moment.

    Amplifying these visionary sentiments, Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, extolled Governor Otu’s leadership as a masterstroke that has rejuvenated Cross River’s agricultural landscape. Adesina’s eulogy underscored the deep-seated belief that under such enlightened guidance, the SAPZ will not only revolutionize local economies but also propel Nigeria onto the global stage.

    Every facet of the SAPZ—from its strategic location near seaports and power plants to its planned integration with efficient rail links—bears witness to Governor Otu’s meticulous planning and farsighted vision. His enduring commitment to crafting an ecosystem of innovation will enable communities to tap into vast potentials and reap the rewards of progress.

    The Governor’s policies have not only unlocked economic gateways but have also reimagined agriculture as a catalyst for societal transformation. His focus on food security and sustainable development is sure to turn rural landscapes into thriving centers of industry and opportunity, ensuring that the fruits of his labour nourish both body and soul.

    Drawing inspiration from a confluence of enlightened minds, the event resonated with the combined vision of leaders who dare to dream boldly. The harmonious interplay of Vice President Shettima’s affirmations and Akinwumi Adesina’s accolades lent an almost lyrical cadence to this landmark occasion, where hope met precision.

    In every word and gesture, Governor Otu’s unwavering passion for his people continues to shine through, resonating with the timeless ideals of justice, progress, and unity. His legacy is being written on the fabric of Cross River, one that will inspire future generations to pursue excellence without compromise.

    As the sun bathes the horizon in golden hues, the synergistic visions of these eminent leaders converge into a singular, resounding promise: that Cross River State, under Governor Otu’s stewardship, will be an enduring ode to resilience, prosperity, and boundless opportunity.

    Thus, on that momentous day, the triumvirate of visionary leadership—embodied by Governor Bassey Edet Otu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Akinwumi Adesina—ushered in an era where every field will bloom with promise, every investment will nurture dreams, and every citizen will bask in the radiant glow of progress.

    Obogo is Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River – linusobogo@gmail.com

  • How Nigeria’s federalism can function optimally – Shettima

    How Nigeria’s federalism can function optimally – Shettima

    Vice-President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria needs patriots, including citizens, leaders and institutions, ready to be counted with a view to establishing a federation that serves the people.

    Shettima said this on Tuesday in Abuja during the 7th edition of Annual Leadership Conference and Awards, held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.

    He said the problems attributed to the current federal system often stem from the poor management of resources rather than from any inherent flaw in the country’s constitutional architecture.

    Represented Dr Aliyu Modibbo, Special Adviser, General Duties to the President (Office of the Vice-President), Shettima stated,”the Nigerian challenge, when carefully considered, lies less in the structure of our federalism.

    ” And more in the deficit of our collective fiscal responsibility. To improve our federalism, we must not lose sight of the dysfunctions that have been allowed to fester under the current system.

    ” If we at the national level deliver on our promises, if our governors manage their allocations with prudence, if our local governments are truly autonomous and accountable.

    ” And if every kobo is deployed with the people’s interest in mind, then the structure will serve us well.”

    The vice-president said, rather than mould Nigeria’s federal system after the ones in Canada and parts of Europe, efforts and attention should be focused more on reforming to meet the country’s unique realities.

    Shettima urged, “We must resist the temptation to romanticise foreign systems or prescribe imported solutions that fail to account for our distinct social, ethnic, and demographic complexities.

    “What we seek, therefore, is not a photocopy of another country’s model, but a federal structure tailored to our aspirations.

    ” It must reflect our values, ensure accountability, and foster development at all levels. The only road to such a destination is through sincere dialogue.”

    Shettima highlighted current efforts by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to confront some of the challenges with the federal system, insistingg that it was the only path to sustainable development.

    ” This administration, under the leadership of Tinubu is confronting this challenge directly.

    ” We have chosen the path of reform. It is bold, often difficult, but necessary.

    “One such step is our unflinching pursuit of local government autonomy—a vision we are realizing through the sanctity of due legal process.,”he said.

    According to Shettima, the recent Supreme Court pronouncements in favour of local government autonomy underscored Tinubu’s commitment to building a federal structure that works for the grassroots.

    He added, ” This is how we make the federation functional: by bringing governance closer to the people.

    “The policy choices pursued by this administration—from the removal of fuel subsidies to the introduction of tax reform bills—are aimed at guaranteeing a fiscally responsible federation.

    ” It will also create a system that offers each state both increased allocations and the opportunity to participate in debates and reforms for long-term fiscal stability.”

    Shettima commended the Leadership Media Group for creating the platform for dialogue and recognising excellence.

    He called on the awardees to note that the honour was both a celebration and a call to duty.

    “In you, we see the embodiment of the values we aspire to institutionalise integrity, innovation, and impact.

    “The path to national renewal is long, but each of you has shown that it is walkable,” he added.

    (NAN)

  • Shettima inaugurates NISO board

    Shettima inaugurates NISO board

    Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday inaugurated the Board of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) Limited at the State House, Abuja, marking a pivotal step in the Federal Government’s effort to restructure and strengthen Nigeria’s electricity sector in line with the Electricity Act 2023.

    The 11-member board, chaired by legal and financial expert Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, is tasked with overseeing the operational and market independence of NISO, which will now manage critical aspects of Nigeria’s electricity supply chain, including grid stability, system operations, power dispatch, and market coordination.

    Other members of the board include Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed (Managing Director), Engr. Nafisatu Asabe Ali (Executive Director, System Operation), Engr. Shehu Abba-Aliyu (Executive Director, System Planning), Dr. Edmund Eje (Executive Director, Market Operation), and Mr. Babajide Ibironke (Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services).

    Non-executive directors include Engr. Lamu Audu, Mrs. Folake Soetan, Mr. Tajudeen Giwa-Osagie, Mr. Mahmuda Mamman (Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power), and Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz (MD/CEO, Transmission Company of Nigeria).

    Read Also: The Road to 2027

    Delivering welcome remarks at the ceremony, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, described the event as a “significant milestone in the ongoing reform of the country’s power sector,” stating that it aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the vision for “an efficient, reliable, and competitive electricity market.”

    “NISO represents a pivotal landmark in Nigeria’s electricity industry reform journey. It serves as a crucial pillar in Nigeria’s Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) by ensuring that the System Operator and Market Operator function independently and transparently, fostering efficiency, as well as boosting investor confidence”, Gbeleyi declared.

    Providing insights into the rigorous process that led to the board’s formation, Gbeleyi explained that the appointments were guided by Section 30(5) of the Electricity Act 2023, which mandates the creation of an Independent Board Nomination Committee (IBNC) comprised of seasoned professionals.

    “The Bureau sought and obtained the approval of His Excellency, the Vice President and Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), for the constitution of the IBNC. This committee, inaugurated on 1st August 2024, led a transparent, competitive and merit-based process to select the board members,” he said.

    According to Gbeleyi, the IBNC, which included industry stalwarts like former TCN MD Engr. Akinwunmi Bada and former NBET MD Mr. Rumundaka Wonodi, received over 500 applications after placing advertisements in three national dailies.

    “Interviews were conducted for 51 shortlisted candidates,” he noted, adding that both executive and non-executive positions underwent thorough vetting, including NERC’s “Fit and Proper Test.”

    “For the non-executive positions, the process adopted was a restrictive selection method predicated on a set of guidelines and merit-based criteria developed in conjunction with NERC.

    “In consultation with key stakeholders, the list of nominees was further screened with due consideration for diversity, Federal Character, and statutory requirements”, he said.

    Gbeleyi praised President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their leadership and dedication to reform.

    “Permit me to express our most sincere appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and His Excellency, the Vice President, for their unwavering commitment to the sustained reform of the power sector,” he said.

    He also acknowledged the contributions of the Minister of Power, NERC, MOFI, TCN, generation and distribution companies, and private sector partners for their support in making the NISO transition a reality.

    To the new board members, Gbeleyi offered a charge of responsibility and national duty: “I congratulate you on your eminently deserved appointments and urge you to serve with diligence, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility. The success of NISO will no doubt play a crucial role in shaping the future of Nigeria’s power sector.”

    With the formal launch of NISO’s leadership, stakeholders say the reforms signal a new era for Nigeria’s power infrastructure — one characterized by transparency, operational independence, and investor confidence.

  • Shettima: federal structure not cause of Nigeria’s fiscal woes

    Shettima: federal structure not cause of Nigeria’s fiscal woes

    • Fed Govt committed to press freedom, says Fagbemi

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has dismissed the belief in many quarters that federal structure is responsible for Nigeria’s fiscal woes.

     “There is no doubt that the Nigerian challenge, when carefully considered, lies less in the structure of our federalism and more in the deficit of our collective fiscal responsibility,’’ Shettima said while delivering the keynote lecture at the 17th Leadership Annual Conference and Awards in Abuja yesterday.

    He argued that people needed to understand that ‘’the problems(fiscal challenges) we attribute to our federal system often stem from  poor management of what is already within our grasp, not from any inherent flaw in our constitutional architecture.’’

    Shettima, represented by Aliyu Modibbo Umar, special adviser to the President on General Duties (Office of the Vice President), called for greater accountability and reform to strengthen the country’s fiscal federalism.

    Read Also: The Road to 2027

    The Vice-President emphasised that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration was committed to bold reforms aimed at fostering a more functional and people-centred federal system.

    A key pillar of this effort, he said, is the administration’s push for local government autonomy.

    He added:  “There is no doubt that the Nigerian challenge, when carefully considered, lies less in the structure of our federalism and more in the deficit of our collective fiscal responsibility.

    “We have chosen the path of reform. It is bold, often difficult, but necessary. Our pursuit of local government autonomy is being realised through the sanctity of due legal process, as underscored by recent Supreme Court pronouncements.” 

    Cautioning against wholesale importation of foreign models of federalism, the Vice-President cited   Canada, Germany and Spain as examples to highlight that every federation evolves according to its unique socio-political realities.

    “No federal system is perfect. Each adapts to its context. We must resist the temptation to romanticise foreign systems or prescribe imported solutions that fail to account for our distinct social, ethnic, and demographic complexities”,  Shettima said.

    He stressed the importance of tailoring Nigeria’s federal structure to meet national aspirations.

     Calling for sincere dialogue and collective reforms, the Vice-President pointed to recent policy initiatives such as fuel subsidy removal and proposed tax reform legislation as evidence of the government’s commitment to building a fiscally responsible federation.

    “What matters most to everyday Nigerians—whether in Owerri or Sokoto—is not the abstract theory of federalism but whether governance delivers water, electricity, schools, roads, and hospitals,” he added.

    Shettima urged public and civil servants at all levels to manage resources with prudence and transparency.

    He underscored that real progress would only come when “every kobo is deployed with the people’s interest in mind.”

    Highlights of the event organised by Leadership Newspaper,  included a presentation of awards to individuals and institutions exemplifying excellence in service and leadership.

    Shettima congratulated the awardees, describing them as “the embodiment of the values we aspire to institutionalise: integrity, innovation, and impact.”

       Attorney-General of the Federation and   Justice Minister  Lateef Fagbemi, in his goodwill message, emphasised the government’s commitment to press freedom in the country.

    He said his presence at the event represents a clear statement by the Tinubu administration regarding the importance of safeguarding press freedom.

    “My being here as Attorney-General of the Federation is also a statement of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly under the able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We also have the Vice President here. This shows that we do not tamper with press free.” 

       Chairman of Leadership Group  Zainab Nda-Isaiah called for a shift in how excellence is celebrated in Nigeria.

    She advised that national awards should serve not only as recognition of achievements but as a catalyst for broader inspiration.

    Nda-Isaiah said the ceremony was not just about applause but about awakening the nation’s collective responsibility to strive for greater impact.

    “I don’t think awards and accolades should be about recognition alone. More than that, they should also be about inspiration, especially in a harsh global economy where dog-eat-dog is the norm”, she said.

    Some of the awardees were  Governor Peter Mbah   of Enugu State, who bagged the Governor of the Year Award;  Ademola Adeleke (Osun),  Governor Umo Eno  (Akwa Ibom), Umar Namadi(Jigawa), Abba Yusuf  (Kano) and  Bala Mohammed  (Bauchi)    

    Federal Capital Territory Minister  Nyesom Wike was named as Outstanding Person in Governance and Infrastructure;   Aliko Dangote,   Person of the Year 2024 Award;     General Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, Dame Adora Umeoni   Banker of the Year 2024 and  Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service Bashir Adewale Adeniyi,    Public Service Person of the Year 2024.  

  • Shettima inaugurates NISO board, signals new era in power sector reform

    Shettima inaugurates NISO board, signals new era in power sector reform

    Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday inaugurated the Board of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) Limited at the State House, Abuja, marking a pivotal step in the federal government’s effort to restructure and strengthen Nigeria’s electricity sector in line with the Electricity Act 2023.

    The 11-member board, chaired by legal and financial expert Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, is tasked with overseeing the operational and market independence of NISO, which will now manage critical aspects of Nigeria’s electricity supply chain, including grid stability, system operations, power dispatch, and market coordination.

    Other members of the board include Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed (Managing Director), Engr. Nafisatu Asabe Ali (Executive Director, System Operation), Engr. Shehu Abba-Aliyu (Executive Director, System Planning), Dr. Edmund Eje (Executive Director, Market Operation), and Mr. Babajide Ibironke (Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services). 

    Non-executive directors include Engr. Lamu Audu, Mrs. Folake Soetan, Mr. Tajudeen Giwa-Osagie, Mr. Mahmuda Mamman (Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power), and Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz (MD/CEO, Transmission Company of Nigeria).

    Delivering welcome remarks at the ceremony, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, described the event as a “significant milestone in the ongoing reform of the country’s power sector,” stating that it aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the vision for “an efficient, reliable, and competitive electricity market.”

    “NISO represents a pivotal landmark in Nigeria’s electricity industry reform journey. It serves as a crucial pillar in Nigeria’s Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) by ensuring that the System Operator and Market Operator function independently and transparently, fostering efficiency, as well as boosting investor confidence”, Gbeleyi declared. 

    Providing insights into the rigorous process that led to the board’s formation, Gbeleyi explained that the appointments were guided by Section 30(5) of the Electricity Act 2023, which mandates the creation of an Independent Board Nomination Committee (IBNC) comprised of seasoned professionals.

    “The Bureau sought and obtained the approval of His Excellency, the Vice President and Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), for the constitution of the IBNC. This committee, inaugurated on 1st August 2024, led a transparent, competitive and merit-based process to select the board members”, he said. 

    According to Gbeleyi, the IBNC, which included industry stalwarts like former TCN MD Engr. Akinwunmi Bada and former NBET MD Mr. Rumundaka Wonodi, received over 500 applications after placing advertisements in three national dailies. 

    “Interviews were conducted for 51 shortlisted candidates,” he noted, adding that both executive and non-executive positions underwent thorough vetting, including NERC’s “Fit and Proper Test.”

    “For the non-executive positions, the process adopted was a restrictive selection method predicated on a set of guidelines and merit-based criteria developed in conjunction with NERC.

    “In consultation with key stakeholders, the list of nominees was further screened with due consideration for diversity, Federal Character, and statutory requirements”, he said. 

    Read Also: Shettima welcomes Swedish Crown Princess to State House

    Gbeleyi praised President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their leadership and dedication to reform.

    “Permit me to express our most sincere appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and His Excellency, the Vice President, for their unwavering commitment to the sustained reform of the power sector,” he said.

    He also acknowledged the contributions of the Honourable Minister of Power, NERC, MOFI, TCN, generation and distribution companies, and private sector partners for their support in making the NISO transition a reality.

    To the new board members, Gbeleyi offered a charge of responsibility and national duty: “I congratulate you on your eminently deserved appointments and urge you to serve with diligence, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility. The success of NISO will no doubt play a crucial role in shaping the future of Nigeria’s power sector.”

    With the formal launch of NISO’s leadership, stakeholders say the reforms signal a new era for Nigeria’s power infrastructure — one characterized by transparency, operational independence, and investor confidence.