Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has announced that the country’s economy has transitioned from years of instability to a more predictable trajectory under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking at the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition 2025 in Abuja on Tuesday, Senator Shettima attributed this transformation to deliberate policy interventions that have restored confidence among investors and earned recognition from global rating institutions.
The Vice President pointed to recent sovereign rating upgrades by Fitch Ratings, which elevated Nigeria to B with a stable outlook, and Moody’s Investors Service, which lifted the nation’s issuer rating to B3 with a stable outlook, as evidence of international validation of the government’s economic direction.
“The world is taking note of the steady course we are maintaining. What this administration has achieved is to end the regimes of volatility and unpredictability that once defined our economy,” Senator Shettima stated through his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President.
According to the Vice President, the government was forced to implement bold measures in response to shifting global economic patterns characterized by technological disruption, geopolitical realignments, and the rapid transformation of employment landscapes.
Senator Shettima emphasized that the administration’s next priority is ensuring these macroeconomic improvements translate into tangible benefits for everyday Nigerians, from small-scale entrepreneurs to large corporations operating in the country.
The conference theme, “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion, and Global Competitiveness,” resonated with President Tinubu’s economic reform blueprint, according to the Vice President, who stressed that digital transformation represents the cornerstone of Nigeria’s long-term prosperity.
“We need a digital ecosystem that works as seamlessly in Lagos as it does in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Gusau, and across every corner of our nation,” Senator Shettima declared.
He painted a vision of an inclusive digital economy where a farmer in Bida can access real-time market information to secure fair prices, and a young woman in Oguta can work remotely for international companies because of reliable connectivity and competitive skills.
Senator Shettima described the digital revolution as a “redemptive opportunity” for Nigeria to shape its own narrative in the evolving global economy, noting that the country must move beyond simple digital applications to develop deep-tech solutions addressing fundamental challenges in agriculture, healthcare, logistics, and governance.
The Vice President outlined a three-pillar strategy anchored on People, Infrastructure, and Policy. Under the People pillar, the administration is implementing initiatives like Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme to build comprehensive digital capacity.
On infrastructure, Senator Shettima highlighted projects like Bridge and 774, designed to expand broadband connectivity nationwide and ensure startups in remote locations enjoy the same digital access as those in major cities.
Regarding policy, he pointed to the success of cashless reforms that have positioned Nigeria among the world’s most vibrant fintech ecosystems. He also disclosed that the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill is approaching final legislative approval, which will trigger what he termed a “GovTech revolution” featuring smarter governance and inclusive service delivery.
The Vice President called on private sector stakeholders to actively participate in the digital transformation agenda, describing them as “the innovators, the disruptors, the dreamers who turn possibilities into progress.”
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, reinforced the government’s commitment to strengthening digital infrastructure through enabling policies. He urged industry players to deepen collaboration to establish Nigeria as a model for technology-driven prosperity.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), commended Senator Shettima’s support for youth-focused digital initiatives, noting that such leadership aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Similarly, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, highlighted the socio-economic potential of the expanding digital economy and emphasized the need for Nigeria to position itself strategically in the global digital landscape.