Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerian entrepreneurs to embrace innovation, investment and productive enterprise to drive national prosperity, expand exports and support the Federal Government’s ambition to build a one-trillion-dollar economy under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
VP Shettima made the call at the Aspire Women Forum masterclass in Abuja.
The event focused on preparing women and young people for export opportunities, international market access and sustainable economic growth.
Represented by the Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, Inna Binta Audu, the vice president described the transition from economic survival to prosperity as both an economic necessity and a national development priority.
He said the success of the initiative should be measured by its impact on businesses, market access and livelihoods rather than attendance figures.
“The true measure of this masterclass will not be the number of people in this hall, but the number of businesses that become stronger, the number of entrepreneurs who reach new markets and the number of livelihoods transformed by what is learnt here,” he said.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), urged aspiring exporters to protect their businesses from illicit drugs and trafficking networks.
He warned that criminals could exploit entrepreneurs involved in cross-border trade by using their shipments to transport illegal substances.
“Know exactly what you are shipping. Verify your partners and your transactions. Never carry a package you did not pack, and never let your goods be used for trafficking,” Marwa said.
He cautioned that a single contaminated shipment could lead to imprisonment, damage an exporter’s reputation and undermine Nigeria’s credibility in international markets.
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He encouraged participants to demonstrate resilience, exercise sound judgement and manage pressure while balancing family responsibilities with their business ambitions.
For people struggling with drug dependence, Marwa said seeking professional help was an act of courage rather than a source of shame.
He highlighted the NDLEA’s toll-free helpline, 0800 1020 3040, which he said operates around the clock. According to him, trained professionals, including clinical psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists, respond to calls in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.
He urged parents, mentors and community leaders to help people access treatment rather than isolate them.
The forum deliberately included young men alongside women and young women, she said, because unstable incomes affect entire households. However, she reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to advancing women’s economic participation.
Marwa added that the forum would continue supporting participants after the event through a dedicated Aspire team responsible for communication, referrals and further learning.
She thanked Vice President Shettima for the support his office provided to the initiative. She also acknowledged World Trade Organization Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, whose meeting with her in Geneva strengthened her commitment to the vision, and Dr. Queen Onyinye Okpa, founder of Women in Agribusiness, Trade and Export (WATEX), among other supporters.
The masterclass sought to help Nigerian entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, improve export readiness and pursue international market opportunities while maintaining the standards and integrity required for sustainable growth.
