Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration will transform Nigeria into a vibrant and prosperous nation. In a statement, Shettima said, “In a couple of years to come, I am projecting a vibrant and better Nigerian society. We are investing in healthcare and education – it is a game-changer. With education, within a generation, the son of a pauper can become a celebrated icon.”

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, quoted Shettima as saying this when he received a delegation from Big Win Philanthropy, led by its CEO, Jamie Cooper, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Nkwocha said Shettima welcomed Big Win Philanthropy’s pledge to work with the Tinubu administration, emphasizing the government’s readiness to explore partnerships that align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Vice President highlighted the Nutrition 774 Initiative, a grassroots-driven program designed to institutionalize nutrition at the local government level, as a key driver in reversing Nigeria’s negative health indicators. Nkwocha further quoted Shettima as saying, “We are open for business. We are ready for fruitful engagements with Big Win Philanthropy because you have the deep knowledge, the institutional memory, the goodwill and the context for a partnership.”

Shettima emphasized the importance of partnerships over handouts, stating, “We were at the World Economic Forum, and I told the world that I don’t believe in handouts but partnerships. We are looking for real partnerships that together, will be a win-win for the whole world.” He expressed his confidence in Nigeria’s potential, saying, “Honestly, Nigeria is not a nation of scarcity; we are a nation defined by potential, blessed with abundant natural resources but our greatest wealth lies in our people, young, dynamic and determined.”

Big Win Philanthropy’s CEO, Cooper, lauded Shettima’s role in combating malnutrition and pledged to create over two million jobs in Nigeria. According to Nkwocha, Cooper said, “We are working with Ministers of Education, Culture and Creative Economy, and Health, among others, to create over two million jobs in Nigeria, we are also working on malnutrition, local production of vaccines and drugs.”

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the visit as a mark of confidence in the direction of the country under President Tinubu’s leadership, supported by Vice President Shettima and other members of the team. Nkwocha concluded that this development signals a promising future for Nigeria’s economic and social development.