Nigeria can fund its priorities, Shettima declares

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says the Federal Government is committed and has the capacity to fund its priority projects, describing the Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship (ACE) as one of such priorities.

Shettima said this on Thursday at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship (ACE) in Abuja, where he was represented by his Special Adviser on General Duties, Sen. Aliyu Modibbo.

Shettima said the ACE aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda and government’s efforts to address unemployment and create productive opportunities for young Nigerians.

He said the expansion of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and establishment of ACE reflected the administration’s commitment to strengthening entrepreneurship and enterprise development.

According to him, the government’s ambition for young people extends across FinTech, AgriTech and HealthTech, with the aim of developing businesses capable of supporting traders, farmers and other economic actors.

“Our ambition is to make the youth employers of thousands, creators of lasting value and sources of national pride.

“We want to create the conditions in which young Nigerians can develop enterprises that contribute meaningfully to the economy, while providing opportunities for others to earn productive livelihoods.

“The Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship is, therefore, consistent with the government’s broader efforts to tackle unemployment and create a more productive and inclusive economy,” he said.

Shettima commended SMEDAN, the Republic of Korea, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other partners for bringing the ACE project to the groundbreaking stage.

He said Nigeria had the capacity to fund its priorities, describing the ACE as a major priority in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen entrepreneurship.

He said the centre would provide young entrepreneurs with opportunities to develop their ideas into viable enterprises while connecting them with relevant support, infrastructure and investment.

Shettima said the government expected the project to contribute to a stronger entrepreneurship ecosystem capable of supporting innovation, enterprise development and job creation across the country.
While inaugurating the construction of the centre, he urged entrepreneurs who had already undergone training to justify the investment by building enterprises worthy of trust and honouring their obligations.

The vice-president advised beneficiaries to remain patient and committed to building sustainable enterprises, saying the success of ACE would ultimately depend on the businesses and opportunities generated through it.

Ms Elsie Attafuah, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, said ACE would help translate Nigeria’s demographic potential into sustainable businesses and decent jobs.

( NAN)