Vice President Kashim Shettima says African nations must take their rightful place in controlling the continent’s resources and global trade.
Shettima spoke on Friday in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, during a tour and assessment of the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ).
He said Africa must maximise its vast natural endowments by developing industries capable of processing raw materials into higher-value products.
The vice president said Nigeria’s renewed industrialisation drive would leave no region behind, with the federal government working alongside subnational governments.
He expressed satisfaction with Benin’s efforts to achieve mass production and export of locally sourced resources.
Shettima regretted that Africa benefits from only about one per cent of the global cotton industry, valued at 370 billion dollars.
He said reviving Nigeria’s textile value chain could create millions of jobs, boost non-oil exports and stimulate economic activities nationwide.
The vice president expressed his satisfaction after inspecting cotton, textile, cashew and soya bean oil production facilities at the industrial zone.
“We are here essentially at the behest of President Tinubu, in the spirit of his Renewed Hope Agenda, to see and peer-review global best practices,” he said.
Shettima said the visit would help Nigeria learn from Benin’s experience in creating integrated value chains for cotton, cashew and soybeans.
“We are setting up eight agro-industrial zones in eight states in our country,” he said.
He added that the GDIZ represented “an African success story where there is a whole chain of value addition in cotton, cashew and soya bean value chains.
“Be rest assured that we have learnt a lot of lessons through this visit, and we are going to replicate a lot of that in Nigeria.”
He said the federal government remained focused on making Nigeria one of the world’s industrialised nations under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The vice president was briefed on GDIZ’s structure, production capacity and investment potential by Benin’s Minister of Tourism and Foreign Trade.
The delegation inspected integrated textile and agro-processing facilities, where locally produced cotton is transformed into yarn, fabric and finished garments.
It also toured facilities processing cashew and other agricultural commodities for domestic consumption and export.
The visit formed part of Nigeria’s efforts to draw practical lessons from Benin’s success in linking agriculture with manufacturing.
It also focused on attracting private investment and transforming raw materials into higher-value finished products.
Shettima was accompanied by the governors of Kwara, Imo, Katsina, Plateau, Zamfara and Jigawa states. (NAN)
