Vice-President Kashim Shettima has emphasised the importance of productive businesses, innovation and value creation in building Nigeria’s economy, while the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has warned entrepreneurs against allowing their businesses to be used for illicit drug trafficking.
The two officials spoke on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at a masterclass organised by the Aspire Women Forum at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The event, themed “From Survival to Thriving: Empowering Women and Youth for Export Readiness, Global Market Access and Prosperity under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” focused on helping women and young people strengthen their businesses and access wider markets.
Shettima, who was represented by the Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, Inna Binta Audu, said sustainable national prosperity depends on productive enterprise, investment, innovation and Nigerians’ ability to create value.
He noted that the ambition to build a $1 trillion economy cannot be achieved by government alone, stressing the need for entrepreneurs to develop businesses that generate income, create jobs and reach new markets.
According to the Vice-President, women and young people must play a central role in the country’s economic development.
He also stressed that empowerment should go beyond training programmes to include access to finance, institutions and markets that can help entrepreneurs turn their skills into sustainable income.
Shettima commended the Aspire Women Forum and its partners for supporting efforts to improve business capacity and export readiness.
In his address, Marwa cautioned aspiring exporters against allowing drug traffickers to use their businesses or shipments to transport illegal substances.
He warned that a consignment found to contain illicit drugs could expose an exporter to imprisonment, damage their reputation and undermine Nigeria’s credibility in international trade.
“Know exactly what you are shipping. Verify your partners and your transactions. Never carry a package you did not pack, and never let your goods be used for trafficking,” Marwa warned.
He urged entrepreneurs to be cautious of individuals offering money to transport suspicious packages, noting that promised financial rewards were not worth the possible legal consequences.
Marwa also highlighted the importance of integrity, reliable products, proper standards, accurate documentation and dependable service in preparing businesses for international markets.
He warned against substance abuse, saying it could undermine personal judgement and destroy business ambitions.
The NDLEA chairman encouraged people struggling with drug dependence to seek professional assistance rather than suffer in silence.
He disclosed that the agency operates a 24-hour toll-free helpline, 0800 1020 3040, where callers can access support from trained professionals in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.
Marwa also pledged the agency’s willingness to work with the Aspire Women Forum through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy initiative.
The forum’s founder and president, Dr Zainab Marwa, said many small business owners struggle to grow because of poor record-keeping, limited access to finance, inadequate packaging and weak connections to buyers.
She said the programme was designed to help participants improve their business operations and prepare their products for wider markets, with mentoring and referrals expected to continue after the masterclass.
The discussions highlighted two issues facing Nigerian entrepreneurs: building businesses capable of creating lasting economic value and protecting those businesses from criminal activities that could destroy their future.