Shettima to state govts: Convert local potential into jobs opportunities

Vice- President Kashim Shettima has urged state governments to document their assets, attract investment, grow tourism and convert local potential into jobs and shared prosperity.

Shettima spoke on Wednesday in Abuja during the Nigeria Sub National Investment and Tourism Information Roundtable in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable featured the Launch of National Compendium themed “Nigeria: Documenting the Economic and Tourism Profiles of 36 States and the FCT.

Represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr Tope Fasua, Shettima also implored state governments to unlock Nigeria’s economic potential.

He said the document represents a major national tool for investment promotion, economic planning and tourism development.

He noted that the compendium aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda by placing states at the centre of Nigeria’s growth strategy.

According to Shettima, Nigeria is not poor in opportunities.

He, however, noted that the country must do more to organise its assets, present them credibly and connect them to capital, markets, technology and investors.

“ Nigeria is rich in assets, rich in talent, rich in culture, rich in enterprise and rich in natural endowments.

“What we must do is to organise these assets, document them properly, present them credibly, and connect them to capital, markets, technology and investors,”  Shettima said.

He described the compendium as a national investment document, tourism guide, economic intelligence tool, and a branding instrument for telling Nigeria’s story in a more structured and compelling way.

“For too long, our story has been told from the narrow lens of challenges. Today we tell a broader story of opportunity, resilience, creativity and partnership,” he added.

According to him, each state has a distinct economic advantage that can be developed into bankable projects.

He noted that some states are strong in agriculture, solid minerals, gas, logistics, manufacturing, Information and Communication Technology and tourism.

“While others possess major cultural and natural attractions.

He said the real policy challenge before the government was to move beyond identifying potential to building practical investment pipelines that can create jobs.

“The challenge is how to convert potential into projects, projects into investments, investments into jobs, and jobs into shared prosperity,” he said.

Shettima assured that the Federal Government would continue to provide policy direction, infrastructure support and diplomatic engagement.

“However, states remain the real engines of inclusive growth because they control the spaces where investments are located and where citizens directly experience development.

“The Federal Government provides direction, policy, infrastructure and diplomatic engagement, but the real engines of inclusive growth are the states.

“The states are where land sits, where agricultural clusters form, where tourism assets are situated, where young people seek jobs, and where investors must establish factories, farms, hotels and service businesses,” he said.

Shettima also urged state governments to improve ease of doing business, secure communities, provide reliable data, identify their comparative advantages and build responsive institutions to support enterprise.

He said Nigeria’s festivals, music, historic cities, natural attractions, ancient kingdoms, beaches, waterfalls, mountains, warm springs and wildlife can attract global interest if properly mapped, developed and marketed.

“Tourism assets do not market themselves. They must be mapped, protected, developed, secured and linked to private investment,” he said.

Shettima commended the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and other partners involved in producing the compendium.

“To bring all 36 states and the FCT into one document is a statement of unity. Our diversity is our greatest economic and cultural asset,” he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, described the national compendium as one of the laudable initiatives.

“This is coming at a time when the Federal Government is implementing bold reforms across the country.”

He urged state governments to engage with the relevant information contained in the compendium and view the economic and tourism profiles outlined in the document as a “call to action” for development.

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa,  said the roundtable provides an opportunity for states to identify their investment opportunities in hospitality.

The minister was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Abdulkarim Ibrahim.

The Executive Secretary of NPC, Dr Dili Ezughah, pledged the council’s support for research and documentation.

He noted that the council would continue to sustain partnerships with relevant agencies and the private sector, aimed at driving the economic transformation of the federation.