Vice President Kashim Shettima has attributed Nigeria’s new growth trajectory to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bold, courageous leadership and well-thought-out policies. Speaking during an update meeting with relevant ministers and heads of agencies at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Shettima noted that “in President Bola Tinubu, we have a leader who has shown that dexterity, that audacity to hope for a better tomorrow.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, in a statement, said the Vice President expressed satisfaction with the firm grasp of the real issues by ministers in the key sectors targeted for deliberations during the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism slated for the later part of the year. Shettima called on all the key actors on the Nigerian side to make adequate preparations for the meeting, noting that there has to be some clarity, strategic coherence and a deep understanding of issues that will be tabled for discussion.

“I want to urge all Ministers involved in this Nigeria-Brazil strategic dialogue to take charge of the initiative of the discussions so that we can take it to the next level, let’s walk the talk. Please, drive the process, engage with the different strategic focus groups to give you weekly updates to prepare us for the visit of the Brazilian Vice President and his delegation,” Shettima said. “The most important thing at this moment is for us to actualize the dreams of our nation’s development. We have the resources and institutional knowledge to make this work for our country.”

The Vice President also stressed the need to leverage the huge opportunities inherent in the partnership between Nigeria and Brazil to actualize Nigeria’s vision across agriculture, culture and tourism, livestock production and military technology, among others. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, noted that the dialogue presents a renewed opportunity for Nigeria to revitalise the nation’s agricultural sector to attain the food sovereign goals of the administration.

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, spoke on the cultural significance of the partnership, saying, “There is a huge population in Brazil of Nigerian descent who have a lot of interest in Nigeria.” Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru, stated that all is set for signing of a defence agreement with Brazil, while Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Ali Pate, highlighted healthcare opportunities that dialogue presents to Nigeria.

Nkwocha added that the Strategic Dialogue will be preceded by a Trade and Investment Forum coinciding with the anticipated visit of Brazil’s Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, H.E. Geraldo Alckmin. Shettima, Nkwocha stated, commended the leadership of the Niger Delta, saying, “I have seen what you have tolerated in the region. Community development is very close to my heart. The leader of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, is doing a great job and should be encouraged to do more.”