Vice President Kashim Shettima has restated the determination of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to position the country’s vibrant youth population to benefit from the digital economy by creating access to jobs.
He stated this in an address at the 2nd Chronicle Roundtable organised by 21st Century Chronicle Newspaper in Abuja, on Thursday, with the theme: “Tinubu administration’s economic and social agenda: How it will transform Nigeria.”
According to him, the issue of access to jobs was being addressed through initiatives such as the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI), Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE), and the expanded National MSME Clinics.
Citing the example of outsourcing, he noted that Nigeria, with a population whose average age is 16.9 and high English language proficiency by the majority, was well positioned to be a major player in the global outsourcing market, earning huge foreign exchange.
He said it was in realisation of the potential inherent in the digital economy that the administration was coming up with policies and initiatives that would help the youth in particular, take advantage of the opportunities.
Shettima also pointed out the role of education in the overall development of the country, and said it was for this reason that the government was heavily invested in it and coming up with policies such as the student loan scheme and the appointment of one of Nigeria’s foremost bankers, Mr. Jim Ovia, as the Chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
The vice president expressed confidence that the initiatives by the government would bring about a paradigm shift and transform our economy into a realm of unbounded productivity, akin to some of the best countries in the world.
Other initiatives by the Tinubu administration targeted at improving the lives of the citizenry are the recently launched consumer credit scheme, and with a dedicated leader appointed to ensure the actualisation of the administration’s promised capital accessibility, he stated.
Shettima said despite the daunting challenges, the Tinubu administration had taken the option that would save the life of the nation, instead of one that would merely prolong its imminent and predicted economic death.
He, therefore, appealed to all Nigerians to see the bigger picture, adding that there is no shortcut to where we are headed as a nation.
