Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Vice President Kashim Shettima has affirmed
the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to develop solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique realities.
To this end, the vice president has urged conglomerates to serve as pipelines for the administration’s practical economic vision, departing from cosmetic reforms of the past.
Speaking at the Heirs Holdings Group Directors’ Annual Summit Dinner in Abuja, Shettima called for a public-private partnership to drive economic growth, lauding Tony Elumelu’s entrepreneurial vision and pledging ease of doing business.
He also called for synergy between the political class and economic stakeholders, emphasizing that the two spheres were not opposites but complementary forces vital for national stability and progress.
“Politics is too important to be left to the politicians, and enterprises that define our economic destination are too important to be left to the businessmen alone to develop. Collaboration between the public and private sectors is the ingredients of a thriving economy.
“We must engage in open dialogue and share insights and work together to crop solutions that are peculiar to our realities. Whether it is tackling unemployment, reducing poverty, or enhancing education and healthcare, our partnership must aspire to drive sustainable development and create a safe future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Projecting into the future, Senator Shettima said, “Our bragging right will not be about having the most unicorns on the continent but also about our entrepreneurial standing with global comparisons.”
The VP further lauded Elumelu’s commitment to empowering young African entrepreneurs, describing him as a “banking colossus” whose entrepreneurial exploits have carved a niche in Africa’s economic landscape.”
He added: “Tony Elumelu belongs to the class of wealthy men because he generates wealth and opportunities and is a harbinger of great tidings to the Nigerian people. For the dreams you have relegated to help build our nation, we offer our deepest gratitude and a promise to continue playing our part to enable the ease of doing business.”
Earlier, Tony Elumelu reaffirmed Heirs Holdings Group’s commitment to Africapitalism, empowering young entrepreneurs, and human impact, citing the empowerment of 20,000 young African entrepreneurs with a seed capital of $5,000 each as their most significant recent achievement.
Elumelu, whose business empire spans 24 countries, noted that the annual gathering serves as a platform to review achievements, business practices, and learn from the experiences of over 100 board members.
He expressed confidence that the collective efforts of Heirs Holdings and other business groups would contribute to transforming the African continent and uplifting the black race globally.
