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By Daniel Adaji
Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged economists across Africa to take the lead in shaping the continent’s economic transformation, warning that the region can no longer afford to miss opportunities for growth and inclusion.
Speaking at the 66th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) in Abuja, on Wednesday, Shettima said recent corporate growth and rising investor confidence show that Nigeria’s ongoing reforms are beginning to yield results, even though citizens continue to endure short-term hardships.
He stressed that politics and economics are inseparable in determining Africa’s future, adding that economists must not be seen as mere theorists but as guides whose ideas directly impact citizens’ lives.
“Africa must reposition itself in the evolving global order,” he said, insisting that the continent’s 1.5 billion people should be viewed as an asset, not a liability.
Shettima lamented that while Asia and South America have successfully transformed into global models, Africa remains stuck in post-colonial structures, with intra-African trade accounting for only 16 per cent of total trade.
In his contribution, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, pointed to Nigeria’s vast land resources and pledged renewed partnerships to reduce the country’s reliance on imported meat and dairy products.
“We have farmlands; we are looking at practical ideas to transform this sector. The future of this country is not in our hands but in our land. Through the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, the livestock sector today will be the next crude oil,” he said.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to engaging professionals in shaping economic reforms. Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, went further, calling for more economists in government and legislation to enforce national development plans.
Dr. Eric Ogunleye, who represented the African Development Bank, commended Nigeria’s reform efforts, describing them as a model that could place Africa on a clear path to prosperity.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Economic Society, Professor Adeola Adenikinju, urged the Federal Government to reintegrate the Society into the Nigerian Economic Management Team.
The conference, attended by participants from 22 African countries, focused on the theme: “Rethinking Africa’s Development Pathways to Economic Transformation and Social Inclusion in a Changing Global Economic Landscape.”