Shettima Emphasizes Courage in Leadership, Cites Kagame as Example

Nigeria's Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has emphasized the importance of courage and decisive action in effective leadership. While delivering a keynote address at the Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Summit in Abuja, Shettima highlighted the need for leaders to take tough decisions in the interest of national development. He praised Rwandan President Paul Kagame, noting that comparisons between Nigeria and smaller African countries should consider population size. Shettima argued that Nigeria's large and diverse population presents unique challenges, citing the population of countries like Botswana, Seychelles, and Rwanda as being significantly smaller than that of Lagos State. The Vice President urged Nigerians to rediscover the country's agricultural heritage, which once served as the backbone of the nation's economy and remains a critical source of jobs and economic opportunities. He commended Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, for his swift response to a proposed investment in oil palm production, stating that representatives of a leading Malaysian oil palm producer had visited his office to discuss plans to invest $500 million in Nigeria's oil palm sector. Shettima emphasized that leadership is about taking responsibility and making difficult decisions, rather than seeking popularity, saying 'leadership is not meant for nice men.'