VICE President Kashim Shettima has called on the governors of Nigeria’s 36 states to place human capital development above political considerations.
Speaking at the Steering Committee meeting of the Human Capital Development (HCD) Programme at the State House in Abuja, Shettima emphasized that Nigeria’s future in the 21st century hinges on the strength of its workforce, the education of its children, and the well-being of its communities.
“We must move beyond plans and policies. Implementation must be swift, targeted, and relentless. The era of incremental change is over—this is the time for bold, decisive action,” he stated.
He urged state governments to intensify their efforts in implementing HCD strategies by focusing on five key progress indicators and ensuring that regular meetings of State HCD Councils become mandatory. This, he said, would embed human capital development at the core of governance.
Reflecting on the administration’s priorities, Shettima noted that history would remember President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government for prioritizing people over politics, investing in capacity over convenience, and building a resilient nation by tackling challenges head-on.
He also highlighted the progress made by the HCD Steering Committee, including its expansion to integrate crucial sectors, thereby strengthening governance structures.
Additionally, he advocated for a nationwide survey to gather real-time data on key indicators such as health, education, and workforce readiness.
“We cannot solve what we do not measure. A nationwide survey is essential to collect accurate data on priority indicators. A country striving for greatness must base its policies on evidence, not assumptions,” he asserted.
Shettima further called for innovative financing strategies beyond government funding, urging private sector leaders, development partners, and philanthropic organizations to view human capital development as an investment in Nigeria’s economic future rather than charity.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, commended the HCD team for their data-driven approach, emphasizing that economic expansion without human capital development is futile.
He stressed that as the world shifts its focus to Africa’s growing young population, Nigeria must prioritize an educated, skilled, and healthy workforce.
Similarly, UNDP Country Representative Elsie Attafuah lauded the federal government’s commitment to human capital development, citing initiatives like the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme. She reiterated that Nigeria’s development hinges on human resources rather than natural resources.
Special Adviser to the President on the National Economic Council (NEC) and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai, provided an update on HCD efforts.
She noted that the team had redesigned the governance structure, conducted stakeholder engagements, managed an ECOWAS grant, and developed an HCD dashboard to track national progress in health, nutrition, education, and labor force participation.