Shettima Seeks Diaspora Support For Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those living in the United States of America to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to transform 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”.

“The citizens of our country have the capacity and intellect to harness our nation’s potential and take it to greater heights,” the VP added in a statement issued by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha.

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.

The meeting was organised and coordinated by the chairman of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa
Speaking on some of the reforms undertaken by the current administration, the Vice President said President Tinubu had been courageous from the outset, and this has culminated in bold decisions that have continued to reposition the economy.

His words, “When President Tinubu assumed office, he did not resort to trading blames 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, stated that the gains of the reforms undertaken were already yielding tangible results as evident in the increase in the country’s foreign reserves from $3.9 billion to over $55 billion and the 4.45 percent growth in the last quarter.

He added that the improvements recorded in the exchange rate and foreign reserves on account of the reforms would guarantee the safety of diaspora remittances, the stability of the exchange rate, and investments made by Nigerians in the diaspora.

The Vice President stated that the administration of President Tinubu was determined to redefine modern governance because the trajectory of global growth was set by Africa, and that Nigeria has a significant role to play in the 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 assured that beyond the negative stories that you hear and see on social media, Nigeria is open for business. We have crossed the Rubicon, and we are on the path of sustained growth,” he said.

Senator Shettima also spoke about the introduction of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, under which 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, 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 supercedes whatever divides us as a people.”

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, Opeyemi Bamidele and spouses of the governors of Kwara, Katsina, Abia and Osun states.