Vice President Shettima Urges Diaspora Nigerians to Invest in Nigeria Despite Negative Social Media Narratives
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians living abroad to continue supporting economic development in the country, insisting that Nigeria remains open to business and investment despite negative reports circulating on social media.
Shettima made the remarks on Wednesday, September 23, during an engagement with members of the Nigerian diaspora community in the United States at the Nigeria House in New York.
The vice president said the Federal Government was implementing measures aimed at strengthening the economy and restoring investor confidence. He encouraged Nigerians in the diaspora to look beyond unfavourable narratives online and consider the opportunities emerging from the country’s ongoing economic reforms.
According to him, the administration of President Bola Tinubu is working to reposition key sectors, including education, healthcare, science and technology, and agriculture. He also highlighted the skills and expertise of Nigerians abroad as an important resource that could contribute to national development.
Shettima defended the economic reforms introduced under Tinubu, saying the president chose to implement difficult decisions rather than spend his early tenure blaming the previous administration for the country’s economic challenges.
He cited the reported growth in Nigeria’s foreign reserves and recent economic expansion as evidence of progress under the reforms. Shettima also said improvements in the foreign exchange market and reserve levels would help protect diaspora remittances and investments while supporting greater stability in the economy.
The vice president pointed to the Dangote Refinery as an example of the type of investment and industrial development the government hopes to encourage as it seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s position as an investment destination.
On education, Shettima highlighted the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), stating that more than 1.29 million students in tertiary institutions had benefited from about N125 billion in funding since the initiative began.
He also addressed Nigeria’s security challenges, acknowledging the difficulties facing the country while noting that the government was deploying available resources to respond to emerging threats.
The current outbreak has been associated with the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is presently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Shettima further appealed for greater national unity, urging Nigerians at home and abroad to contribute to building a stronger and more prosperous country. He maintained that the interests and values shared by Nigerians should take precedence over the issues that divide them.
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