Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for its transformative impact on global entrepreneurship and innovation, which has generated over $1.5 billion and created more than 30,000 direct jobs in the past 20 years.
He made the remarks on Wednesday when he received a delegation from the Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship 2025-2026, led by MIT’s Executive Director for the Kuo Sharper Centre for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship, Dina Sherif, during a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa.
The Vice President urged African entrepreneurs to unite and collaborate in order to fully harness the continent’s vast potentials, while taking advantage of MIT’s network for resource mobilization and job creation.
According to him, “Africa is the new frontier and the future belongs to the continent, but its people must unite to transform potentials into tangible results that impact lives and livelihoods.”
He emphasized that Africa is rich in both human and material resources but needs greater cooperation among its people to benefit from the opportunities that exist across the continent.
Shettima further noted that President Bola Tinubu is taking bold steps to transform Nigeria’s economy and improve the living standards of its citizens. “President Tinubu is not afraid of taking bold decisions that will reposition Nigeria’s economy and better the lives and livelihoods of the people,” he said.
Earlier, Dina Sherif explained that the visit was to brief the Vice President on the activities of the Kuo Sharper Centre for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship. She stated that the Centre is focused on “fueling the engine of entrepreneurship across the world,” while reaffirming its commitment to strengthening entrepreneurial capacity, especially in Africa.
Sherif highlighted that the Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship programme has significantly promoted the spirit of entrepreneurship across the continent and that the team’s presence in Nigeria was part of efforts to further deepen collaboration with local innovators and business leaders.
She also noted that Nigeria remains a leading country in Africa’s startup growth, reflecting the resilience and creativity of its entrepreneurs.
Sherif assured that the Centre will continue to support African startups through various initiatives designed to boost innovation and prosperity.
Also present at the meeting were the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, and several fellows of the Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship 2025–2026 session from across Africa.
