Africa must control its resources, trade – Nigerian VP Shettima

Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for African nations to assert greater control over the continent's vast resources and its participation in global trade. Speaking during a visit to the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in Benin, Shettima stressed the importance of maximizing Africa's natural endowments by developing industries capable of processing raw materials into higher-value products.

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Africa must maximise its vast natural endowments by developing industries capable of processing raw materials into higher-value products.

Shettima expressed concern that Africa currently benefits from a mere 1% of the global cotton industry, an sector valued at $370 billion. He believes that reviving Nigeria's textile value chain alone could generate millions of jobs, significantly boost non-oil exports, and stimulate widespread economic activity.

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We are here essentially at the behest of President Tinubu, in the spirit of his Renewed Hope Agenda, to see and peer-review global best practices.

During his tour of the GDIZ, which included facilities for cotton, textile, cashew, and soybean oil production, Shettima conveyed satisfaction with Benin's progress in achieving mass production and export of locally sourced resources. He stated that the visit, undertaken at the behest of President Tinubu and in line with his "Renewed Hope Agenda," aimed to study global best practices and learn from Benin's experience in creating integrated value chains.

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We are setting up eight agro-industrial zones in eight states in our country.

"We are setting up eight agro-industrial zones in eight states in our country," Shettima announced, indicating Nigeria's commitment to replicating Benin's success. He described the GDIZ as "an African success story" demonstrating value addition across cotton, cashew, and soybean chains. The Nigerian delegation, which included governors from six states, inspected facilities transforming cotton into yarn and fabric, as well as processing cashews and soybeans for domestic and export markets, seeking practical lessons to enhance Nigeria's manufacturing and export capabilities.

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We have learnt a lot of lessons through this visit, and we are going to replicate a lot of that in Nigeria.