The president has disclosed that 24 million Nigerians will benefit from the Federal Government’s Human Capital Development project, which aims to promote education, healthcare, and skills training throughout the country.
Recall that in 2018, the National Economic Council created the National Human Capital Development Programme to combat poverty and promote long-term economic growth, emphasizing the importance of HCD.
This initiative aims to expedite targeted investments in people, fostering equitable economic growth across Nigeria.
At the strategy validation stakeholders engagement workshop, held in Abuja on Thursday, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the HCD core working group, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, along with the Acting Coordinator of HCD and Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai, emphasised the government’s commitment.
They emphasized the government of President Bola Tinubu’s plan to combat the “japa” syndrome by making targeted expenditures in health, education, and skill-building.
Hadeija stressed the critical importance of Human Capital Development (HCD) in an interview with journalists, pointing out that President Bola Tinubu intends to build on the accomplishments of the previous government of Muhammadu Buhari.
In response to a question about how this will curb “japa” (a Yoruba term meaning to leave for better opportunities), the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President encouraged Nigerians to participate in all HCD initiatives to help address their challenges.
He said, “We live in a global setting, and with technology, the world is borderless. First of all, we can’t stop people from leaving Nigeria. What we will do is embrace the HCD initiative that creates opportunities for people to stay at home. This way, they don’t need to leave the country to earn a living. With the HCD initiatives, they can do that here in Nigeria.”
Hadeija promised that many Nigerians will see changes in their lives via expanding access to high-quality education, improving healthcare, and providing possibilities for skill development and employment.
“We will shape the quality and effectiveness of the Human Capital Development Programme in building resilient healthcare systems, ensuring equitable access to education, and fostering an inclusive, future-ready workforce,” he stated.
He stated ” This workshop is an avenue to deliberate on and validate our strategies. This is the day to acknowledge that the solutions we seek lie within our collective wisdom and experience. By sharing insights, best practices, and innovative ideas, we can identify the most effective pathways to achieving our goals.
“It is through our combined efforts that we can create a comprehensive and sustainable framework for human capital development that will benefit generations to come.
“Through collaboration, learning, and growth, we will shape the quality and effectiveness of the Human Capital Development Programme in building resilient healthcare systems, ensuring equitable access to education, and fostering an inclusive, future-ready workforce.”
In her remarks, the Acting Coordinator of HCD emphasized that Human Capital Development is the cornerstone of sustainable economic growth and social progress.
The workshop was attended by representatives from the Gates Foundation, the World Bank, ECOWAS, the Dangote Foundation, and the United Nations Development Program, among others.
