Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that Nigeria’s vision is not dependent on begging for alms, but rather fostering equal partnerships that would empower economic growth.
Shettima stated this at the Financial Times Global Risk Roundtable during the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
He asserted that Nigeria will lead Africa’s economic transformation through strategic investments in education, youth empowerment, and innovative agricultural approaches.
He said, “The word for crisis in Chinese is ‘Wei Ji’. Wei stands for danger, while Ji stands for opportunity. Yes, we have challenges, but those challenges are pregnant with opportunities to re-engineer our society and build back better.
“The crisis has given us a unique opportunity to invest in people, especially in areas that will enable us to leapfrog our economies into global competitiveness.
“I don’t believe in aid; I believe in partnership. I’d rather carry my poverty with dignity and deal with people, nations, and companies on a pedestal of equality, not in a master-servant relationship. I didn’t come with a begging bowl.
“My continent is the richest in the world, and the trajectory of global growth is facing Africa. Nigeria will make or mar that transition. The youths of Africa are the drivers of change.”
Acknowledging global crises, including conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan, the Vice President noted their impact on supply chains, humanitarian challenges, and peace.
He called for multilateral collaboration, stressing that the interconnected nature of global challenges requires collective solutions.
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