Vice President Kashim Shettima has emphasized the essential contribution of Nigeria’s capital market in realizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitious goal of creating a trillion-dollar economy.
Speaking during a courtesy visit from the executive members of the Association of Capital Market Academics of Nigeria (ACMAN) at the Presidential Villa, Shettima articulated the need for a skilled and knowledgeable workforce to drive economic progress.
“We are now in a knowledge-driven age; without the right skill set, we cannot make significant strides,” he stated. “The capital market has a prominent role to play in pushing us toward this objective. With your intellect, experience, and the quality of your membership not just in numbers we can achieve our goals.”
Shettima praised the efforts of capital market experts and their critical contributions to the ongoing economic transformation. “We have the talent and the people,” he noted, “but what truly matters is the leadership that will guide us through this journey. We need your association to collaborate with us in developing robust solutions tailored to our nation’s needs.”
He further underscored Nigeria’s pivotal position in Africa, asserting, “Wherever Nigeria goes, that’s where Africa will go. We have a moral obligation to make this continent thrive, and I appreciate your partnership and support for our administration.”
Earlier, ACMAN President Uche Uwaleke explained the association’s purpose in supporting the Tinubu administration’s reforms, particularly in fiscal policy. He highlighted the association’s efforts to strengthen the relationship between academia and industry, stating, “Today, we welcome captains of industry to foster that vital connection between the town and the gown.”
In a notable recognition of Shettima’s contributions, ACMAN conferred its highest membership status Fellowship of Capital Market Academics upon him. Uwaleke shared that this decision was unanimously reached at the last conference, recognizing Shettima’s role as Chairman of the National Economic Council. “We look forward to your inaugural lecture, which is a key requirement for this award,” he added.
The meeting was attended by esteemed academic figures, including Prof. Seth Akutson from Kaduna State University and Dr. Hussaini Mohammed, among others, underscoring the collaborative spirit between academia and policy-making in shaping Nigeria’s economic future.
