Africa has woken up, now an investment destination – Shettima

Vice-President Kashim Shettima invited global investors to explore Nigeria’s growing business opportunities at the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

Speaking at a forum about investment in Africa’s frontier markets on Tuesday, Shettima challenged negative perceptions about the continent. “The stories you hear about Africa are not that of doom and gloom,” he said, drawing a parallel with Napoleon Bonaparte’s view of China: “China is a sleeping giant but when she wakes up, she will rattle the world. Africa has woken up and we will take our rightful place in the comity of nations.”

Read Also: Shettima departs Abuja to attend World Economic Forum meeting

Shettima highlighted his banking background and President Tinubu’s financial expertise: “For 20 years, I was in the Nigerian banking industry. I was a general manager in Nigeria’s largest bank, Zenith Bank. The President himself is a seasoned chartered accountant. Nigeria is ready for business, ready to embrace modernisation with very robust investment.”

While acknowledging some challenges, Shettima pointed to major infrastructure projects: “The coastal highway from Calabar to Lagos is the largest single investment in Africa. We are building corridors to the North. We have the West African gas pipeline, and we’re partnering with 14 African countries to invest in gas infrastructure down to Morocco.”

On the forum’s sidelines, Shettima met with Botswana’s President Duma Boko to discuss strengthening ties between their nations. During this meeting, he welcomed World Trade Organisation Director General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, praising her as “one of Africa’s finest.”