..says Volatile economic era over
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration has ended the era of economic volatility and uncertainty that once defined Nigeria’s financial landscape.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja while declaring open the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition 2025, the Vice President said the government’s bold reforms were stabilising the economy, restoring investor confidence, and attracting global commendation.
He said global economic shocks, shifting alliances, and the rapid displacement of traditional jobs by emerging technologies had compelled the administration to adopt innovative solutions.
Highlighting recent upgrades of Nigeria’s sovereign credit rating by Fitch to B with a stable outlook and Moody’s upgrade of the nation’s issuer rating to B3 with a stable outlook, Shettima noted that the world was acknowledging the country’s “steady course.”
“What this administration has achieved is to end the regimes of volatility and unpredictability that once defined our economy. The phase before us now is to ensure that these macroeconomic gains trickle down to the people, from neighbourhood kiosks to multinational boardrooms,” he said.
He added that the government was determined to avoid applying “20th-century solutions to 21st-century problems.” He described the conference as an affirmation of innovation for a sustainable digital future that drives growth, inclusion, and global competitiveness.
Shettima said the theme of the conference, “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion, and Global Competitiveness”, aligns with Tinubu’s reform agenda, which places young Nigerians at the centre of national transformation.
According to him, Nigeria’s long-term stability depends on prioritising digital development beyond “quick-win apps” toward deep-tech solutions that address foundational challenges in agriculture, health, logistics, and governance.
He envisioned a digital ecosystem that functions seamlessly across the country, enabling a farmer in Bida to access real-time market data and a young woman in Oguta to work remotely for a global company because she has digital skills and reliable connectivity.
He said Nigeria must seize the opportunities offered by the ongoing digital revolution, having missed out on previous industrial revolutions.
“At the forefront of this ambition stands a man of a thousand visions, the progressive leader we are fortunate to have at a time demanding reformers and patriots, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Shettima stated.
The Vice President outlined the administration’s digital strategy around three pillars: People, Infrastructure, and Policy.
He said government efforts on talent development include integrating digital literacy into school curricula, promoting inclusion through the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, and producing world-class experts via the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme.
On infrastructure, Shettima said government is constructing a broadband “superhighway” and implementing projects such as Bridge and 774 to ensure high-speed connectivity nationwide.
He added that policy reforms, including the success of cashless initiatives, had strengthened Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem and positioned the country as a global leader.
Shettima disclosed that the administration was at an advanced stage of passing the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill, which he said would unlock a new era of smart governance, transparency, and inclusive service delivery, much like the cashless policy had spurred the fintech revolution.
He called for strong private-sector partnership, describing industry players as drivers of innovation and progress.
Earlier, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, said enabling digital policies under the Tinubu administration was improving Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and urged stakeholders to leverage the platform to strengthen collaboration.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, commended the Vice President for championing youth development in line with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He assured that the government remains committed to empowering young people to tackle national challenges.
Similarly, the CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, highlighted the increasing adoption of technology and multiple devices globally, noting the immense socio-economic potential of the digital economy.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to harness its digital assets through collaboration, innovation, and interaction.
