VP
Shettima on Nigeria’s Multidimensional Poverty: Vision, Strategy, and Urgency
Vice
President Kashim Shettima has emerged as a vocal advocate for confronting
Nigeria’s multidimensional poverty crisis with bold, systemic reforms.
His
recent remarks at the 2025 Nextier Development Festival (DevFest), themed
“Ending Poverty in Nigeria,” laid out a comprehensive roadmap for lifting
between 40 and 50 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next decade.
Represented
by Sadiq Wanka, Special Adviser to the President on Power Infrastructure,
Shettima emphasized that Nigeria’s poverty is not merely about income
deprivation but spans across access to education, healthcare, housing,
nutrition, and employment. He asserted that the country has “no excuse for
poverty,” given its abundant human and natural resources, and called for a
national awakening to confront the structural and policy failures that
perpetuate deprivation.
Central
to Shettima’s strategy is the aggressive pursuit of economic reforms aimed at
stabilizing the macroeconomic environment. He highlighted the importance of
consistent policy application to sustain GDP growth, reduce inequality, and
lower inflation.
The Vice
President expressed optimism that inflation could fall to single digits by
2026, a critical milestone for improving purchasing power and economic
stability. He also underscored the role of mechanized agriculture,
infrastructure expansion, and inclusive governance in creating jobs and
boosting productivity. These reforms, he argued, are not abstract ideals but
tangible commitments that the administration is already implementing through
fiscal discipline, deregulation, and targeted investments.
Shettima’s
remarks also touched on the importance of collaboration across sectors. He
called on civil society, the private sector, and international partners to
align efforts with government initiatives.
The Vice
President believes that poverty eradication is achievable only through a
unified national effort that prioritizes the dignity and potential of every
Nigerian. He cited the inauguration of the Nutrition Core Working Committee
(NCWC) as a step toward addressing malnutrition, which he described as a silent
but devastating dimension of poverty.
The
committee, dubbed an “intellectual powerhouse,” is tasked with coordinating
strategies to combat hunger and improve child development outcomes nationwide.
In his
vision, Nigeria’s fight against poverty is not just a policy challenge but a
moral imperative. Shettima’s rhetoric is infused with urgency and hope,
portraying poverty as a solvable problem rather than a permanent condition. He
envisions a Nigeria where prosperity is not a privilege for the few but a
shared reality for the many. His message is clear: with sustained reforms,
inclusive policies, and national resolve, Nigeria can dismantle the structures
of multidimensional poverty and build a future of equity and opportunity.
