Lawrence Olaoye 
Vice President Kashim Shettima insists Nigeria can become the hub of the $7.7 trillion global halal market if it prioritises its strengths and reassesses its weaknesses.
According to the former Borno State governor, the country’s economic and demographic size puts it in a vantage position to map out a vibrant investment sector for the global halal economy projected to reach a market value of $7.7 trillion by 2025.
He said these yesterday during the Halal Economy Stakeholders Engagement Programme at the Presidential Villa. The VP said: “For Nigeria to become a hub of opportunities in the global halal economy, we must prioritise our strengths and reassess our weaknesses.
Today’s engagement provides a platform for us to collaborate with key international organisations. “This will allow us to develop a comprehensive halal ecosystem and agree on strategies that will position Nigeria as a top halal exporter, targeting high-value markets.”
Shettima commended the private sector for its immense “contributions to driving the halal economy, particularly in the financial sector”, even as he encouraged all stakeholders to partner with the administration of President Bola Tinubu in delivering the halal ecosystem.
He said: “To ensure this, we must attract international investment by showcasing the vast opportunities within Nigeria’s halal sector through investor summits, roadshows, and business matchmaking events.
“The expansion of regional trade, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), also provides us with a pathway to become a leading supplier of halal goods and services across Africa.
“Therefore, we must increase public awareness through strategic orientation campaigns, specialised training programmes, and deeper engagement with the global market to elevate the visibility and competitiveness of Nigeria’s halal ecosystem.”
Describing halal as an economy that accommodates all actors and stakeholders, Shettima noted that the halal market held vast potential that aligned “with the overarching agenda of President Bola Tinubu”.
On why the country would become a leading hub for investment in the halal economy, he said: “Nigeria’s economic and demographic size gives us a unique advantage in developing a vibrant halal investment sector.
“With the global halal economy projected to reach a market value of $7.7 trillion by 2025, this opportunity is not only recognised by Muslim-majority countries but also seized by non Muslim nations, which have become leading exporters of halal products.”
