VP Shettima Says no region will be left behind under President Tinubu’s industrialization agenda

Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima has declared that the time has come for African nations to claim their rightful position in global trade by leveraging the continent’s abundant natural resources through value addition and industrialization.
Speaking on Friday during an official visit to the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, where he led a delegation of Nigerian governors on an assessment tour, the Vice President said Africa must maximize the value of its resources if it is to fully benefit from global commerce.
He assured that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, every part of Nigeria will benefit from the administration’s industrialization drive, stressing that no region will be left behind.
According to Senator Shettima, the Federal Government, working closely with state governments, is committed to accelerating Nigeria’s industrial development and unlocking the country’s economic potential.
He commended the Beninese government for its deliberate efforts in promoting local production, value addition, and exports of its natural resources.
Highlighting the need for Africa to retain greater value from its raw materials, the Vice President lamented that although the global cotton industry is worth about $370 billion, Africa receives only about one percent of its value. He noted that President Tinubu’s plan to revive Nigeria’s textile value chain would create millions of jobs, expand non-oil exports, and stimulate economic growth nationwide.
After touring the industrial zone’s cotton, textile, cashew, and soybean processing facilities, VP Shettima expressed confidence that Nigeria would adapt and replicate many of the successful initiatives implemented in Benin.
He said:
“We are here at the instance of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, to undertake a peer review of global best practices in value addition.
“Nigeria is establishing eight agro-industrial zones across eight states, and this is a remarkable African success story showcasing complete value chains in cotton, cashew, and soybean processing.
“We have learnt valuable lessons from this visit, and we are determined to replicate many of these initiatives in Nigeria as we pursue our ambition of becoming one of the world’s industrialized nations.”
Upon arrival, the Vice President and the governors received a briefing on the industrial zone’s operations, production capacity, and investment opportunities from Benin’s Minister of Tourism and Foreign Trade, responsible for Industry and the Promotion of Private Investment, Mr. Olushegun Adjadi Bakari.
The delegation later toured the zone’s integrated textile and agro-processing facilities, where locally grown cotton is transformed into yarn, fabric, and finished garments, while cashew and other agricultural products are processed for both domestic consumption and export.
The 1,640-hectare industrial hub, developed through a partnership between the Beninese government and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms, hosts textile, garment, cashew, soybean, and other manufacturing industries. Since production commenced in 2021, the zone has created more than 25,000 jobs.
The visit forms part of Nigeria’s efforts to study and adopt practical strategies from Benin’s success in integrating agriculture with manufacturing, attracting private investment, and converting raw materials into high-value finished products.
The governors who accompanied the Vice President were AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Dikko Umaru Radda (Katsina), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).
The governors reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing similar industrial projects in their respective states, emphasizing the immense opportunities for public-private partnerships, youth employment, technology transfer, and stronger collaboration between farmers and manufacturers.
To mark the visit and reinforce the importance of sustainable industrial development, Vice President Shettima and the governors also planted trees within the industrial zone.
Stanley Nkwocha
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications
(Office of the Vice President)