By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Shettima’s Visit alongside other governors |
LAGOS, NIGERIA– Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent high-level delegation to the Benin Republic accompanied by six state governors has been hailed as a decisive step toward reigniting Nigeria’s industrial engine. The strategic study tour focused on the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), a premier hub designed to revitalize the textile sector and accelerate Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) initiative.
Reacting to the development on Friday, July 24, 2026, renowned TV and film producer Viyon Awhanse, CEO of Gbagi Communications Ltd. and Director of the Badagry International Film, Cultural & Sports Festival, described the Federal Government's initiative as a visionary move toward economic self-reliance.
Awhanse brings a unique perspective to the conversation, having produced an international documentary on location at GDIZ alongside IBST and the CNN team for Afreximbank, the primary financier of the mega-project.
“Having produced an international documentary on location at GDIZ... I witnessed first-hand the transformative impact of this mega-project,” Awhanse disclosed to News Peddlers. “GDIZ seamlessly integrates the full agricultural value chain: sourcing raw cotton directly from local farmers and transforming it into export-ready textiles, garments, Ankara fabrics, towels, and bedsheets. Beyond textiles, it operates as a fully self-sustaining industrial ecosystem encompassing cashew processing, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and food production chains.”
Awhanse emphasized that replicating this fully integrated agro-industrial model within Nigeria specifically along strategic coastal trade corridors like Badagry would yield massive, multi-sectoral economic benefits for the nation.
He outlined several key advantages of bringing the GDIZ framework to Nigerian soil:
Lower Production & Import Costs: Domestic manufacturing hubs would drastically reduce foreign exchange pressure, eliminating the heavy freight and international travel costs currently incurred by traders journeying to Asia from major commercial markets in Oshodi, Idumota, Onitsha, and Kano.
Agricultural Empowerment & Employment: Direct off-take agreements would guarantee stable incomes for local farmers while generating tens of thousands of skilled manufacturing and technical jobs for Nigerian youths.
Regional Trade Dominance: Localized processing of raw materials ensures value addition remains within Nigerian borders, effectively positioning the nation as West Africa’s primary manufacturing and export hub.
The Federal Government's proactive approach to studying regional best practices aligns with broader economic recovery goals. By pairing strong policy leadership with strategic infrastructure investments in key border and coastal regions like Badagry, Nigeria stands on the precipice of driving Africa’s next major industrial leap.
“The steps being taken by the Federal Government to study and adapt regional best practices provide a clear roadmap for economic recovery,” Awhanse noted. “By combining strong policy leadership with strategic infrastructure in key locations like Badagry, Nigeria is well-positioned to drive Africa’s next industrial leap.”