Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those living in the United States of America, to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration in transforming the country's economic fortunes.
He said the administration was doing its best to reposition the economy, particularly in the areas of education, health, science and technology, and agriculture and would leverage the intellect of the diaspora community, which, according to him, is “the greatest resource of the future”.
“Citizens of our country have the capacity and intellect to harness our nation’s potentials and take it to greater heights,” the VP added.
Senator Shettima stated this on Wednesday at the Nigeria House in New York during an interactive session with the Nigerian diaspora community in the United States.
Speaking on reforms undertaken by the current administration, the Vice President said President Tinubu has been courageous from the outset, and that bold decisions have continued to reposition the economy.
His words: “When President Tinubu assumed office, he did not resort to trading blame and accusing his predecessor for the state of affairs of our nation. Rather, he took decisions that only a leader of courage and conviction would take.”
He, however, said the reforms were already yielding tangible results, as shown by the increase in the country’s foreign reserves from 3.9 billion dollars to over 55 billion dollars and the 4.45 per cent growth in the last quarter.
He added that the improvements in the exchange rate and foreign reserves, driven by the reforms, would guarantee the safety of diaspora remittances, exchange-rate stability, and investments made by Nigerians in the diaspora.
The Vice President said President Tinubu's administration was determined to redefine modern governance because the trajectory of global growth was shifting toward Africa, and Nigeria has a big role to play in this emerging era.
According to the VP, “We are working day and night to reposition the Nigerian nation as investment confidence is returning to Nigeria, and the Dangote Refinery success story is a true manifestation in recent times.
“Be rest assured that beyond the negative stories that you hear and see in the social media, Nigeria is open for business. We have crossed the rubicon, and we are on the path of sustained growth.”
Senator Shettima also spoke about the introduction of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, where over 1.29 million Nigerian students in tertiary institutions have accessed N125 billion since the programme's inception.
On security challenges, the Vice President said that, though it is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, the administration was deploying all the means at its disposal to contain emerging challenges.
He also urged concerned citizens to strive for a united and prosperous nation, noting that Nigerians must unite for the progress of their country, stating that “whatever binds us together supersedes whatever divides us as a people”.
Also present at the event were Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno State; Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara; Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers; Dauda Lawal of Zamfara; Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, and spouses of the Governors of Kwara, Katsina, Abia and Osun states.
Others included Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Science, Innovation and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh; Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro; Education, Dr Tunji Alausa; Solid Minerals Development, Chief Dele Alake; Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Bunkure; Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim; Nigeria's Ambassador to Washington, Amb. Kayode Are, and heads of government agencies as well as top officials of the Nigerian mission in the US, among others.
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