Vice-President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s capacity to finance its priority projects, identifying the Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship as an important investment in efforts to expand opportunities for young Nigerians.
Shettima spoke on Thursday at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship in Abuja. He was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on General Duties, Senator Aliyu Modibbo.
The Vice-President said the centre was part of the administration’s broader strategy under the Renewed Hope Agenda to address unemployment by supporting entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise development.
He said the expansion of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria and the establishment of ACE demonstrated the government’s focus on creating an environment where young Nigerians could develop sustainable businesses.
According to him, the government’s entrepreneurship ambitions extend to emerging sectors including financial technology, agricultural technology and health technology.
“Our ambition is to make the youth employers of thousands, creators of lasting value and sources of national pride,” Shettima said.
He explained that the initiative was designed to help young Nigerians transform business ideas into viable enterprises while gaining access to infrastructure, investment and other forms of support.
Shettima also commended the organisations involved in bringing the project to the construction stage, including SMEDAN, the Republic of Korea, the Korea International Cooperation Agency and the United Nations Development Programme.
He described the Abuja centre as a major priority and said Nigeria had the capacity to fund projects considered important to the country’s development.
The Vice-President said the facility was expected to strengthen Nigeria’s entrepreneurship ecosystem by promoting innovation, supporting new businesses and contributing to employment creation.
He also challenged entrepreneurs who had already benefited from government training programmes to translate their skills into sustainable businesses.
Shettima urged the beneficiaries to justify the resources invested in their development by building enterprises that could earn public trust and meet their obligations.
He further advised entrepreneurs to remain patient and committed, noting that the ultimate measure of the ACE project would be the businesses created and the economic opportunities generated through the initiative.
The centre is expected to provide young entrepreneurs with an environment where they can develop business ideas and connect with relevant infrastructure, investment and support services.
Speaking at the ceremony, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, said the project could help convert Nigeria’s large youth population into sustainable businesses and decent employment.
She said initiatives such as ACE could play a role in turning the country’s demographic potential into productive economic opportunities.
The groundbreaking marks the commencement of construction of the centre, which the Federal Government hopes will contribute to entrepreneurship and job creation beyond Abuja.
