VP Shettima Visits Benin to Boost Nigeria's Textile Sector

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, arrived in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, for a high-level working visit. He was welcomed by Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Corinne Amori Brunet, and the Minister of Tourism and External Trade, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari.

Accompanying him are the Governors of Kwara, Imo, Jigawa, Plateau, Katsina, and Zamfara States, along with the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, and other senior officials. The delegation plans to visit the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) to engage with representatives of the Beninese government and private-sector operators.

The visit aims to draw lessons for Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme, focusing on agricultural value addition and industrial infrastructure. The GDIZ textile park, covering 1,640 hectares, is significant for its integrated production system.

This visit aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing industrial revival and economic diversification, particularly in the textile sector, which was valued at approximately ₦8.15 trillion in 2024.