Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on development partners and stakeholders to address systemic inequalities and build an inclusive, equitable financial system to support Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
Speaking on Wednesday at the inaugural Development Partners Roundtable on Economic and Financial Inclusion, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Shettima stressed the importance of collaboration between the private sector and development partners to achieve this ambitious target.
Represented by the Special Adviser to the President on General Duties (Office of the Vice President), Aliyu Modibbo Umar, the vice president highlighted critical challenges hampering economic and financial inclusion. He noted the low penetration of digital financial services among women as a major concern.
Shettima attributed these disparities to socio-economic barriers such as limited education, low incomes, and inadequate access to essential financial tools, including credit and insurance. “Without addressing these gaps and fully engaging the private sector and development partners, the $1 trillion economic vision will remain an illusion,” he warned.
The roundtable, aimed at fostering partnerships for economic growth, underscored the government’s commitment to tackling financial inequalities and promoting sustainable development.