By Ladi Patrick
Federal Government has inaugurated seven planning committees for the forthcoming National Industrial Manpower Summit.
Inaugurating the Committees in Abuja, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh said the move became necessary to ensure that Nigeria’s Industrial rise is not only powered by infrastructure and policy but also by people, skilled, equipped and globally competitive.
“This initiative marks a defining step toward unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s industrial transformation through one of its most vital levers: human capital development and this summit is not just an event it is a declaration of intent. It signals our collective resolve to ensure that Nigeria’s industrial rise is not only powered by infrastructure and policy but also by people: skilled, equipped, and globally competitive” the Minister stated.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment remains resolute in its mandate to position Nigeria as a leading hub of industrial excellence on the continent and our reform efforts are focused on removing structural bottlenecks, attracting investment, and expanding value- added production.
However, the government recognized that policies and capital alone are insufficient without a workforce prepared to power the engines of innovation, manufacturing, and enterprise.
In his words “The summit we are convening will serve as a strategic convergence point where government, industry, academia, and international partners will collectively reimagine Nigeria’s industrial skills architecture. From curriculum alignment and technical certification, digital literacy and green economy competencies, the time has come to redesign our human capital pipeline for the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“Under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Renewed Hope Agenda has placed industrial development at the heart of economic policy. Initiatives like the National Industrial Policy, the revitalization of industrial clusters, and the launch of the Industrial Revolution Work Group ,IRWG, all point to a bold economic trajectory and yet, Mr. President is clear -eyed in his belief that people are the most precious infrastructure of any nation and that is why substantial public investments are being made in skills acquisition, vocational training, and workforce modernization across every geo-economic zone of the country”, Senator Enoh explained.
He explained that the National Industrial Manpower Summit is not just a government agenda it is a national imperative noting that it is a call to industry leaders, policy architects, labour unions, educational institutions, and global partners to co-create a skills revolution that ensures our industries are not only built but sustained by competent, competitive, and future-ready Nigerians.
“I urge each of you to bring bold ideas to the table, challenge orthodoxies, and commit to actions that will outlast us and let this be the summit that sets a generational standard and as we inaugurate this Planning Committee, let us be guided by a singular vision: a Nigeria where industrial growth is inclusive, where employment is meaningful, and where every citizen has the opportunity to contribute to national prosperity.
“Your expertise, passion, and collaboration are the engine of this summit’s success and together, let us build a resilient industrial future one that secures Nigeria’s place not just as a participant, but as a leader in Africa’s next industrial era”, the Minister stressed.
