On Monday, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, approved the establishment of a multi-sectoral committee as part of the implementation of the Human Capital Development (HCD) program initiated by the federal government. The committee, comprising representatives from federal and state governments, donors, and partners, is scheduled to convene every fortnight to assess the progress in achieving the goals of the HCD program.
This decision emerged from a meeting between the Vice President, World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, Chairman of the Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, among others, at the State House in Abuja.
During the meeting, Vice President Shettima emphasized the importance of investing in human capital development to create a globally competitive and adaptable workforce for the 21st century. He expressed the collective commitment to redirecting the potential of human capital to safeguard the economy and commended the role of leaders like Dangote and Elumelu in influencing positive change.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Pate, highlighted the federal government’s efforts in putting people at the center of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ and emphasized the need to invest in human resources. He stressed the importance of accurate data in the implementation of HCD programs and urged stakeholders to reinforce and harness existing data for accountability and accuracy.
Both Alhaji Dangote and Mr. Elumelu pledged their support for the HCD program, with Dangote commending the Vice President for addressing challenges in human capital development and calling for concerted efforts to tackle inaccurate data. World Bank Country Director, Mr. Chaudhuri, assured the bank’s support for the HCD program, particularly in technical assistance and strengthening databases.
The HCD program, launched in March 2018, represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s efforts to address challenges in human capital development, focusing on areas such as education, health, and labor force participation. The comprehensive framework and multi-stakeholder approach aim to position Nigeria for sustainable growth and prosperity. The program involves various committees and working groups, overseeing its implementation at different levels, with a focus on specific thematic areas and essential human capital development indicators.
