Shettima Pushes Enterprise for Prosperity, Marwa Warns Exporters Against Drug Trafficking
Oru Leonard
Vice President Kashim Shettima has stressed the need for productive enterprise, investment, innovation and value creation as critical drivers of sustainable national prosperity, saying women and young people must play central roles in Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Shettima stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the Aspire Women Forum masterclass, themed “From Survival to Thriving: Empowering Women and Youth for Export Readiness, Global Market Access and Prosperity under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The Vice President, who was represented by the Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, Inna Binta Audu, said the transition from survival to prosperity was not merely a personal aspiration but an economic necessity and a national development priority.
He explained that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was anchored on building an economy driven by productive businesses, investment and the capacity of Nigerians to create value.
According to him, Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy cannot be achieved by government alone but requires an enabling environment where businesses can emerge, grow, compete and contribute meaningfully to national development.
“Our ambition to build a one-trillion-dollar economy cannot be realised by government alone. It requires an ecosystem in which businesses can emerge, grow, compete and contribute to national development,” he said.
Shettima noted that empowering women and young people would expand the country’s productive capacity, strengthen household incomes, generate employment and create opportunities for future generations.
He added that economic inclusion must go beyond training programmes and empowerment announcements to providing entrepreneurs with the tools, institutions, finance and market access needed to transform their skills into sustainable income.
The Vice President commended the Founder and President of Aspire Women Forum, Dr. Zainab Marwa, and its partners for organising the masterclass, noting that its success should be measured by the number of businesses strengthened, entrepreneurs connected to new markets and livelihoods improved.
Meanwhile, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has warned aspiring exporters against allowing their businesses to be exploited by drug traffickers.
Marwa cautioned that shipping goods contaminated with illicit drugs could result in imprisonment, destroy business reputations and damage Nigeria’s international image.
Addressing participants at the masterclass, he urged women and young entrepreneurs seeking access to international markets to protect the integrity of their businesses by verifying their transactions, checking their business partners and ensuring they know exactly what they are shipping.
“Know exactly what you are shipping. Verify your partners and your transactions. Never carry a package you did not pack, and never let your goods be used for trafficking,” he warned.
The NDLEA boss explained that a single contaminated consignment could cost an exporter their freedom, tarnish their family’s reputation and jeopardise access to international markets painstakingly developed by Nigerian businesses.
He emphasised that successful export businesses must be built on integrity, reliable products, compliance with relevant standards, accurate documentation and dependable service.
Marwa also urged participants to guard their health and judgment against substance abuse, warning that pressure, disappointment, curiosity and the desire to belong could expose young people to drug-related risks.
“Drugs solve no business problem and end no hardship; they only multiply them,” he said.
He encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace discipline, resilience, sound decision-making and responsible associations as they pursue business growth and international opportunities.
The NDLEA chairman assured individuals struggling with drug dependence that seeking professional assistance was an act of courage rather than a cause for shame.
He drew attention to the agency’s toll-free helpline, 0800 1020 3040, which operates round the clock to provide support and guidance.
According to him, calls are handled by trained professionals, including clinical psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists, who provide assistance in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.
He called on parents, mentors and community leaders to encourage affected individuals to seek treatment rather than isolate them.
Marwa also pledged the agency’s readiness to collaborate with Aspire Women Forum through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy initiative to promote drug-free communities and responsible entrepreneurship.
He urged participants to identify practical steps they could take immediately after the programme, including registering their businesses, improving financial records, strengthening digital skills and preparing their products for wider markets.
“Invest in your abilities. Choose your associations carefully. Pursue your goals with discipline and integrity. Thrive, and stay drug-free,” he added.
Earlier, the Founder and President of Aspire Women Forum, Dr. Zainab Marwa, said many Nigerians worked tirelessly in farming, food processing, tailoring, trading and service delivery but struggled to achieve financial stability because of gaps in business management and market access.
She identified poor record-keeping, lack of business registration, unsuitable financing, weak product packaging and limited access to buyers as some of the challenges preventing small businesses from growing.
Marwa commended the Federal Government for its efforts to promote enterprise development and economic inclusion under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including intervention financing for small businesses through the Bank of Industry and initiatives supporting skills development and digital enterprise.
She explained that the masterclass was designed to equip participants with practical knowledge to understand and access available opportunities while preparing their businesses for domestic and international markets.
The Aspire Women Forum founder disclosed that the programme deliberately included young men alongside women and young women, recognising that unstable income affects entire households.
She reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to advancing women’s economic participation and disclosed that engagement with participants would continue after the masterclass through a dedicated Aspire team providing communication, referrals and further learning opportunities.
Marwa expressed appreciation to Vice President Shettima for the support extended by his office, as well as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, whose meeting with her in Geneva strengthened her commitment to the initiative.
She also acknowledged Dr. Queen Onyinye Okpa, Founder of Women in Agribusiness, Trade and Export (WATEX), and other partners for supporting the programme.
The masterclass brought together women, young entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to explore practical strategies for business development, export readiness, global market access and sustainable economic empowerment under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
