Aliko Dangote Is Not an Individual, He’s an Institution” — VP Urges Support for Nigerian Investors

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has described Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, as “not just an individual but an institution,” urging Nigerians to protect and support indigenous investors who continue to play pivotal roles in the nation’s economy.

Speaking at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit held in Abuja on Monday, the Vice President emphasized that the way the nation treats entrepreneurs like Dangote will reflect how the global community perceives Nigeria’s commitment to nurturing local enterprise.

“Aliko Dangote, he’s not an individual, he’s an institution, and he’s a leading light in Nigeria’s economy. And how we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us,”
— Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Shettima praised Dangote’s decision to invest his vast resources in Nigeria rather than in foreign tech giants, noting that such patriotic choices should be acknowledged and protected.

“If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, in Amazon, or in Google, he probably might be worth $70 to $80 billion by now.
But he opted to invest in his country, and we owe it to future generations to jealously protect, promote, preserve, and protect the interests of this great Nigeria,” he stated.

The Vice President also addressed the ongoing tensions between the labour unions and the organised private sector, cautioning against actions that could jeopardize national economic stability.

“I wish to call for caution, retrospection, and a deeper sense of patriotism from both labour and the organised private sector in defining and improving the relationship between labour and industry in the interest of maintaining our steadily improving economic fortunes,” Shettima added.
“It’s not about holding the whole nation to ransom because of a minor labour dispute. Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us. I’m not coming to you as a partisan.”

The 31st Nigerian Economic Summit, themed “Pathways to Economic Renewal and Shared Prosperity,” brought together key figures from the government, private sector, and international community to discuss strategies for sustaining economic growth, job creation, and industrial stability.