Vice President Kashim Shettima has described African professionals and entrepreneurs as critical drivers of the continent’s future, urging them to work collectively to unlock Africa’s vast economic and innovation potential.
The Vice President made the call while receiving a delegation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship Programme, noting the institution’s far-reaching impact on global innovation and enterprise development.
Shettima disclosed that over the past two decades, MIT has raised more than one-point-five billion dollars and facilitated the creation of over thirty thousand direct jobs, underscoring the power of structured innovation ecosystems.
He stressed that Africa represents the world’s next major growth frontier but warned that its success depends on unity, collaboration, and the ability of its people to convert abundant resources into sustainable value.
The Vice President also highlighted the reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the administration is actively positioning Nigeria to leverage global partnerships, innovation, and private-sector investment to drive economic transformation.
In her remarks, MIT Executive Director Dina Sherif reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to strengthening entrepreneurship worldwide, explaining that the Kuo Sharper Centre is focused on supporting African startups through mentorship, funding access, and capacity-building initiatives.
The delegation briefed the Vice President on the Centre’s programmes, including the Foundry Fellowship, which they said continues to empower African innovators and expand entrepreneurship ecosystems across the continent.
(Editor: Ada Ononye)
