At the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, VP Kashim Shettima inaugurated Nigeria House, declaring the country’s resolve to engage purposefully in the global economy as reforms yield early dividends in non-oil sectors and economic stability
Vice President Kashim Shettima: Nigeria Takes Front Seat in Global Economy with Sovereign Davos Pavilion
Vice President Kashim Shettima has boldly declared Nigeria ready to claim a leading role in the global economy, marking a milestone moment at the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
Speaking yesterday during the inauguration of Nigeria House—the country’s first-ever sovereign pavilion at Davos—Shettima emphasized that Nigeria’s future hinges on deliberate and structured engagement with the world.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, Nigeria stands at Davos with a sovereign pavilion of its own,” he stated. “Nigeria House reflects our intention, our seriousness, and above all our resolve to take a front-line seat in the discourse of the global economy, not as observers, but as participants with a clear sense of purpose.”
The remarks, released via a statement by his spokesman Stanley Nkwocha, underscored the pavilion as a whole-of-government platform ultimately powered by private enterprise.
“Government can open doors and de-risk environments; only enterprise can animate growth and translate policy into productivity,” Shettima said.
He highlighted early gains from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms, noting expansion in services, agriculture, finance, and technology, which has boosted non-oil revenues. Inflation eased through 2025, foreign reserves strengthened, and forex market stability returned.
“Our decision to open up to the world more deliberately comes at a turning point in our economic journey. The dividends of the difficult but inevitable reforms of recent years are beginning to show,” he added.
Shettima pointed to Nigeria’s 3.9% economic growth last year—the fastest in over a decade—driven by a resilient non-oil sector now contributing roughly 96% of GDP.
Industry, Trade and Investment Minister Dr. Jumoke Oduwole praised Shettima’s backing for the project, calling Nigeria House a symbol of renewed national pride and strong public-private partnership. She noted that investment playbooks launched at the event spotlight opportunities in solid minerals, climate-smart agriculture, creative industries, and digital sectors—aligning with efforts to rebuild trust and credibility.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Faruk Yano, said the pavilion would attract non-oil investments and push for fairer access to finance for emerging markets.
Lead Execution Partner Omowunmi Imoukhuede described the facility as a rare platform to tell Nigeria’s investment story directly to global leaders.
The inauguration was followed by a Global Business Roundtable focused on resilient supply chains for the energy transition.
The event drew high-level dignitaries, including Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, Science and Technology Minister Kingsley Ude, heads of agencies, and prominent industry captains. Read More
