By Yahaya Umar
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, has called for joint collaboration of state governments and other stakeholders in human capital development to accelerate healthcare, education and jobs creation in the country.
Shettima made the call at the Strategy Validation Stakeholders Engagement Workshop on Nigeria’s Human Capital Development Programme ,HCDP, organised by the Office of the Vice-President, yesterday in Abuja.
Shettima, represented by Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the HCD Core Working Group, said that collective actions were required in building brighter future for the country.
He said that achieving the objectives of HCDP, which includes improving access to quality education, enhancing healthcare services, providing skills training and employment opportunities, could not be done in isolation.
“Your strategic input will help us shape policies that are inclusive, equitable, and sustainable, and hopefully, this should help us in driving the systemic change that’s needed to take HCD to a level where it becomes an integral part of our development architecture.
“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.
“If we must make a difference, we must always acknowledge that our success depends on our ability to collaborate, innovate, and commit to a shared objective as a team.
“We are not just doing this because the eyes of the nation are upon us, but also because our reputation is at stake”.
Shettima said that through collaboration, learning and growth, the country would shape the quality and effectiveness of the HCDP, in building resilient healthcare systems, ensuring equitable access to education, and fostering an inclusive, future ready workforce.
He called on the participants of the HCD 2.0 workshop, to share their views and come up with more practical framework for delivering on the programme’s objectives.
In her remarks, Hajia Rukaiya El-Rufai, the acting National Coordinator, HCD 2.0, said the workshop was to review and redesign Nigeria’s strategy on HCD, aligning it with global human capital development strategies.
According to el-Rufai, this include the World Bank Human Capital Development Index ,HCDI, the UNDP Human Development Index ,HDI, and the ECOWAS Human Capital Development Strategy.
She said that the review would also integrate the renewed hope agenda set forth by President Bola Tinubu, ensuring that our efforts resonated with his vision for a prosperous and inclusive Nigeria, on which sustainable economic growth and social progress were built.
“Investing in our people’s education, health, and skills not only enhances individual well-being but also drives innovation, productivity, and competitiveness on a global scale.
“Currently, Nigeria ranks 152 out of 157 countries on the 2020 World Bank HCDI and 161 out of 191 countries on the 2021 UNDP HDI.
“These rankings underscore the urgent need for action. While we have made some progress, we still face significant challenges.
“Our latest rankings remind us of the critical need to accelerate our efforts in improving education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for all Nigerians”, she said.
El-Rufai urged the workshop participants to develop a comprehensive strategy that not only addresses the unique challenges facing Nigeria but also leverages the vast opportunities available.
She emphasised that the strategy must mainstream gender, ensuring equal opportunities for all, and incorporate climate change and climate action, recognising the critical intersection between human capital and environmental sustainability.
Mr Zakaria Momodu, the representative of Aliko Dangote Foundation, described the workshop as a significant milestone in the collective journey towards fostering a robust and sustainable HCD strategy in Nigeria.
While pledging the commitment of the foundation in the project Nigeria, Momodu urged stakeholders including governments at the sub-national level to key into the HCD programme in working towards prosperous Nigeria.
“As a committed development partner, we are honoured and duty-bound to be part of this transformative initiative.
“The buy-in, collaboration and dedication of all stakeholders, particularly those at the grassroots community level, is absolutely vital in ensuring that we build a resilient and empowered human capital base, which is fundamental to the socio-economic growth of our country.
“Together, we can create a future where every Nigerian has the opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully to our society and the world at large”, Momodu said.
Also in his remarks, Mr Ekenem Isichei, the representative of Gate Foundation, urged all stakeholders to continue to invest in HCD to make Nigeria a better nation where every citizen have a healthy and productive live, in line with the foundation’s belief.
“We believe that when we invest in our people, it has a spiral effect on education, on health, and on productivity in this society.
“So as we do this programme, we encourage you to think about investing more in Nigeria’s human capital, which will lead to more yields in education, agriculture, and health”, Isichei said.
Mr Chris Amadi, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, said that for productivity to excel, there must be human capital development and workers must be well trained.
Chris, while commending organisers of the workshop, said that the ministry was always opened for discussion on HCD.
The workshop themed, “From Strategy to Action: Empowering States for Human Capital Development’’, was attended by government representatives and other stakeholders from all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
NAN also reports that highlights of the occasion include panelists discussions, where discussants highlighted the need for state government to learn from one another, empower local governments for HCD, improved access to quality education and healthcare delivery.
