Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians living in the diaspora, particularly those in the United States, to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in its efforts to transform Nigeria’s economy and reposition the country for sustainable growth.
Shettima made the call on Wednesday at Nigeria House in New York during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian diaspora community in the United States.
He said the administration was leveraging reforms in education, healthcare, science and technology and agriculture, while seeking to harness the expertise and intellect of Nigerians abroad, which he described as “the greatest resource of the future.”
The Vice President highlighted the economic reforms undertaken by the Tinubu administration, saying the President demonstrated courage by taking difficult decisions rather than dwelling on the challenges inherited from the previous administration.
He said the reforms were already producing measurable outcomes, citing increased foreign reserves and economic growth as indicators of progress.
According to Shettima, the improvement in the exchange rate and foreign reserves would strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s economy, protect diaspora remittances and create a more stable environment for investments by Nigerians living abroad.
The Vice President also pointed to the Dangote Refinery as an example of renewed investment confidence in the country, assuring Nigerians in the diaspora that Nigeria remains open for business.
On education, the Vice President disclosed that more than 1.29 million Nigerian students in tertiary institutions had accessed about N125 billion through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund since the programme commenced.
He said the initiative formed part of the administration’s broader efforts to expand access to education and build the human capital required for Nigeria’s future development.
Shettima also addressed the country’s security challenges, noting that Nigeria was deploying available resources to confront emerging threats. He urged Nigerians to remain united in the pursuit of national development, stressing that the bonds that unite the country should remain stronger than its differences.
The meeting was attended by several governors, ministers, lawmakers, senior government officials, Nigeria’s diplomatic representatives in the United States and heads of government agencies.