Vice President Kashim Shettima has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms, describing them as tough but essential to fix Nigeria’s long-standing economic problems.
Speaking at the Nigerian Economic Society’s 66th Annual Conference in Abuja, Shettima said previous governments only talked about reforms, but Tinubu has shown the courage to act. He likened the changes to surgery—painful at first but necessary for lasting recovery.
He noted that while the reforms have caused inflation and hardship, the government is introducing social protection measures in healthcare, education, and transportation to ease the burden on vulnerable Nigerians.
The Vice President also called on African nations to embrace the “knowledge economy,” where technology and human skills drive development. He said Africa must adapt to global changes such as artificial intelligence and supply chain disruptions, which, though challenging, also present opportunities.
Highlighting Nigeria’s potential, he explained that “a young person in Daura can now work for a company in Dallas without leaving home,” stressing the need for Africa to harness such opportunities to tackle poverty and unemployment.
Other speakers backed the reforms. Budget Minister Abubakar Bagudu praised Shettima’s contributions, while Livestock Minister Idi Mukhtar Maiha pointed to Nigeria’s livestock sector as a multi-billion-dollar opportunity and “the next crude oil.”
The Nigerian Economic Society (NES), led by Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, pledged to support the reforms, bridging research and policy to help drive national growth. The African Development Bank also reaffirmed support for Nigeria’s role in Africa’s economic transformation.
