Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria following his participation in the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland. The event, which brought together global leaders, policymakers, and business experts, served as a platform for Shettima to share insights on advancing Africa’s economy.
A statement from his spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed that Shettima co-chaired a session titled “Turning Digital Trade into a Catalyst for Growth in Africa” at the Pischa Congress Centre.
During his address, the Vice President underscored the importance of prioritizing innovation, education, and gender empowerment as sustainable solutions for economic challenges in the Global South.
Shettima also participated in a discussion on “Global Risks 2025,” where he noted that relying solely on foreign aid is not a viable strategy for addressing Africa’s economic difficulties. Instead, he called for long-term investments in sectors that can transform African societies and unlock their potential.
At another forum, the Vice President reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which is aimed at enhancing trade relations across the continent. He shared an optimistic outlook, projecting that Africa could achieve a $29 trillion economy by 2050 through digital trade and economic reforms.
The report further noted that Shettima engaged in high-level bilateral talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Botswana President Duma Boko. These discussions focused on improving cooperation among African nations and fostering unity to tackle shared challenges.
Additionally, Shettima met with World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and World Economic Forum President Børge Brende to discuss collaborative solutions to issues like energy security, food shortages, and ecological threats.
While speaking at the forum, the Vice President expressed confidence in Nigeria’s progress toward sustained economic development, attributing this to the government’s ongoing efforts to reform critical sectors.
