By Scholastica Joseph, Makurdi
Members of Chartered Institute of Human Capital Development of Nigeria, CIHCDN, have urged
the federal government to take proactive steps to develop skills of citizens as a sure way to boost productivity and develop the nation.
Chairman of Board of Trustees, BOT, and Council, of CIHCDN, Mr Cyril Ogboli, gave this charge at a mandatory talent development programme organized by the institute, with a theme “Skills Paradigm Shifts Strategies for Driving Productivity.”
Mr Ogboli said a country such as Nigeria seeking to grow in an inclusive way and reduce poverty, needs to invest in skills development to raise a crop of experts that will drive its development.
The chairman express displeasure that the nation’s school systems are not providing young people with basic skills; cognitive and behavioural, that make the “trainable”, saying that essence of the training was to educate the people to focus on skills acquisition rather than certification.
Ogboli who identified Nigeria’s population as an advantage said the government should leverage on the number and knowledge of the people to drive development by deliberately developing the skills of its human resources.
Speaking at the event, Professor Onyeke Onyeke, said skills paradigm shifts has become very important because the world has moved from human beings to what human beings can do.
He noted that everything has changed including the economy, the environment, politics and government, tastes among others hence the need for skills acquisition.
Prof. Onyeke also noted that issues of Covid-19 and climate change have affected the country said “Nigerians must shift their skills to the current viable state of production,” to enhance the social, economic and political development of the nation.
Some of the participants, who spoke to our correspondent said the importance of human capital development in national building cannot bend overemphasized and thanked the institute for the event.
Engr. Charles Onuh in particular notes that the future of Nigeria is in her human capital; whose real talents need to be developed for the progress of country.
