Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on state governments across Nigeria to move beyond documenting economic and tourism assets to actively converting them into investments, jobs and sustainable prosperity.
He said the next phase of Nigeria’s economic expansion will depend largely on how effectively states can identify their comparative advantages, attract capital and translate local potential into productive economic activity.
Shettima made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja during the Sub-National Government Economic and Tourism Information Roundtable and the launch of the National Compendium on the Economic and Tourism Profiles of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He was represented at the event by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters in the Office of the Vice President, Dr Tope Fasua.
According to the Vice President, the compendium represents a major national tool for investment promotion, economic planning and tourism development, aligned with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He noted that Nigeria is rich in natural and human resources but must do more to organise and present its assets in a way that attracts investors and unlocks economic value.
“Nigeria is rich in assets, rich in talent, rich in culture, rich in enterprise and rich in natural endowments. What we must do is organise these assets, document them properly, present them credibly, and connect them to capital, markets, technology and investors,” Shettima said.
He described the newly launched compendium as more than a document, calling it a national investment guide, tourism reference tool, economic intelligence resource and branding instrument for repositioning Nigeria’s economic narrative.
“For too long, our story has been told from the narrow lens of challenges. Today we tell a broader story of opportunity, resilience, creativity and partnership,” he added.
Shettima stressed that each state possesses unique economic strengths that can be developed into viable investment opportunities across agriculture, solid minerals, gas, logistics, manufacturing, ICT and tourism.
He said the key policy challenge is transforming identified potential into structured investment pipelines capable of generating employment and economic growth.
“The challenge is how to convert potential into projects, projects into investments, investments into jobs, and jobs into shared prosperity,” he said.
The Vice President emphasised that while the Federal Government provides policy direction, infrastructure support and international engagement, states remain the primary drivers of inclusive growth due to their proximity to resources, investors and local populations.
“The real engines of inclusive growth are the states. The states are where land sits, where agricultural clusters form, where tourism assets are situated, where young people seek jobs, and where investors must establish factories, farms, hotels and service businesses,” he said.
He urged state governments to strengthen ease of doing business, improve security, enhance data quality and build institutions capable of supporting private sector participation.
Shettima also highlighted Nigeria’s untapped tourism potential, noting that cultural festivals, historic cities, beaches, mountains, wildlife and natural landmarks could generate significant foreign and domestic revenue if properly developed and marketed.
“Tourism assets do not market themselves. They must be mapped, protected, developed, secured and linked to private investment,” he said.
He further explained that the initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in areas such as poverty reduction, decent work, industrialisation, innovation, reduced inequality and sustainable partnerships.
According to him, achieving these goals requires more than policy statements, but concrete investments supported by reliable data and public-private collaboration.
The Vice President commended the Nigeria Press Council, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority and other stakeholders for their contributions to the compendium.
“To bring all 36 states and the FCT into one document is a statement of unity. Our diversity is our greatest economic and cultural asset,” he said.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the compendium as a timely initiative that aligns with ongoing economic reforms, urging states to treat it as a practical guide for development.
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, represented by Permanent Secretary Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim, said the initiative would help states better showcase opportunities in tourism, hospitality and digital innovation.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, Dr Dili Ezughah, also pledged continued institutional support for research, documentation and partnerships aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s economic transformation.
The launch of the compendium is expected to deepen collaboration between federal and state governments while providing a structured framework for attracting investment and promoting Nigeria’s diverse economic and tourism assets.
