Local Production: Nigeria will define itself through what it creates – Shettima

By Christiana Ekpa

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to deepening support for local production.
Shettima, represented by the Special Adviser, Special Duties, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, said this at the Made in Naija Trade Exhibition organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce on Tuesday.
He said Nigeria’s economic identity and global relevance will be defined by what it creates.
The Vice President said Nigeria’s future depends on the creativity, ingenuity, and enterprise of its people.
“There is nothing that advertises the pride of a nation as much as the craft, creativity and conceptions of its people,” Shettima said. “They do more than signal the capability of the people. They serve as a fertilizer of the economy. They nourish every sector and give life to dreams yet to be imagined.”
He said the gathering was more than an exhibition, it was a statement of intent.
“This is both the assurance of our readiness to make Nigerian brands appeal to the world and a promise of the government’s commitment to work with you through this journey of transformation.”
Shettima stressed that the country’s wealth does not lie in oil fields, fertile land, or mineral deposits, but in what Nigerians are able to turn those resources into.
“Our fortune is what we make of these resources, the ambition that turns potential into prosperity. It rests on the shoulders of our most valuable asset, our human capital.”
He highlighted that Nigerian brilliance has already been demonstrated in multiple sectors, from agro-processing to architecture, textiles to technology, and manufacturing to music. But he warned that creativity is not enough if Nigerians fail to support what they produce.
“It is not enough for us to produce. We must patronize what we produce. Every time we choose a product manufactured here, we are making an investment, in a Nigerian entrepreneur, an artisan, a factory worker, a young graduate building a future.”
According to him, buying Nigerian strengthens the naira, supports jobs, reduces dependence on global supply chains, and nurtures a sustainable middle class.
Yet Shettima noted that the target goes beyond self-reliance.
“Made in Nigeria must become synonymous with quality, innovation and competitiveness on the global stage. We have the resources, we have the creativity, we have the human capital. What remains is our resolve.”