Shettima Advocates for Africa's Role in Global Trade

On Friday, during an official visit to Cotonou, Republic of Benin, Nigeria's Vice President Kashim Shettima called for African nations to assert control over global trade by utilizing the continent's abundant natural resources. Leading a delegation of Nigerian state Governors, Shettima assessed the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), which has been operational since 2021 and is a public-private partnership developed by the Beninese government and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms.

The zone focuses on textile, garment, cashew, soybean, and other manufacturing operations, providing over 25,000 jobs. Shettima expressed satisfaction with Benin's efforts in mass production and export of resources and reiterated the Tinubu administration's commitment to reviving Nigeria's textile value chain to generate jobs and stimulate economic activity.

The delegation, which included Governors AbdulRahman AbdulRazak (Kwara), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Umar Namada (Jigawa), Umaru Dikko Radda (Katsina), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), expressed interest in exploring similar industrial projects in their states.