SHETTIMA, MARWA URGE WOMEN, YOUTH TO PURSUE EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES WITH INTEGRITY

SHETTIMA, MARWA URGE WOMEN, YOUTH TO PURSUE EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES WITH INTEGRITY 


By Jennifer Nwosu 


Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for greater investment in enterprise, innovation and the productive capacity of Nigerians, saying sustainable national prosperity depends on businesses that create value, generate employment and expand access to global markets. He said women and young people must play a central role in achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.

In a statement released by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said Shettima made the remarks in his keynote address at the Aspire Women Forum masterclass on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Represented by Inna Binta Audu, Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, the Vice President described the transition from survival to thriving as both an economic necessity and a national development priority.

Shettima commended the forum’s founder, Dr. Zainab Marwa, and its' partners for organizing the programme, which focused on export readiness, access to international markets and economic opportunities under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He stressed that empowerment must extend beyond training to include access to finance, institutions and markets that help entrepreneurs turn their skills into sustainable income.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged women and young entrepreneurs to protect their businesses from drug trafficking, warning that carrying illicit drugs in export consignments could lead to imprisonment, damage Nigeria’s reputation and undermine access to international markets.

Marwa advised aspiring exporters to verify their business partners, understand the contents of every shipment and avoid carrying packages they had not personally checked. He said successful exporting required integrity, reliable products, proper standards, accurate documentation and dependable service.

He also warned participants against substance abuse, describing drug use and trafficking as threats to personal ambition and business success. Marwa encouraged anyone struggling with drug dependence to seek professional help through the NDLEA’s toll-free helpline, 0800 1020 3040, which operates 24 hours a day. The service provides support in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba through trained professionals, including clinical psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists.

He pledged the agency’s support for the Aspire Women Forum through its' War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy programme, while encouraging participants to take practical steps such as registering their businesses, improving financial records, strengthening digital skills and meeting export standards.

In her welcome address, Dr. Zainab Marwa said many Nigerians work hard in farming, food processing, tailoring, trading and service delivery but struggle to grow their incomes because of poor record-keeping, lack of business registration, unsuitable financing, inadequate packaging and limited access to buyers.

She commended the Federal Government under President Tinubu for promoting enterprise and economic inclusion through the Renewed Hope Agenda, including small-business financing initiatives involving the Bank of Industry and support for skills development and digital enterprise.

Dr. Marwa said the forum deliberately included young men alongside women and young women because economic hardship affects entire households. She added that the organisation would continue supporting participants through mentoring, referrals and further learning.

She also acknowledged Vice President Shettima, World Trade Organization Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, whose meeting with her in Geneva reinforced her commitment to the initiative and Dr. Queen Onyinye Okpa, founder of Women in Agribusiness, Trade and Export (WATEX), among others who supported the programme.

The masterclass was designed to help women and young entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, meet export requirements and access wider markets while promoting responsible drug-free enterprise.

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