The Federal Government has emphasized the importance of human capital to drive industrial transformation, saying the country’s industrial growth must be powered not only by infrastructure and policies but also by a highly skilled, globally competitive workforce.
Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, stated this while inaugurating 7 planning committees for the forthcoming National Industrial Manpower Summit in Abuja.
Enoh, who reaffirmed government’s commitment to industrial transformation through the development of a skilled and globally competitive workforce, said the Committee will drive Nigeria’s industrial growth through strategic human capital development.
“This summit is more than just an event, it’s a declaration of intent. It signals our collective resolve to ensure Nigeria’s industrial rise is powered by people, skilled, equipped, and future-ready,” he said.
The minister stressed that while reforms are underway to attract investment, eliminate structural bottlenecks, and boost value-added production, these measures will fall short without a well-prepared workforce driving innovation and enterprise.
He said the summit would act as a strategic forum where government, industry, academia, and international partners could collaboratively reimagine Nigeria’s industrial skills framework.
According to him, areas of focus will include curriculum reform, technical certification, digital literacy, and green economy competencies, all vital for preparing the country for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Referencing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Enoh noted that industrial development lies at the heart of the current administration’s economic policy.
He stated that substantial investments are already being made in skills acquisition, vocational training, and workforce modernization across the country.
“This summit is a national imperative. We are calling on industry leaders, labour unions, educators, and policymakers to co-create a skills revolution that ensures our industries are built, and sustained by competent Nigerians,” the minister said.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development, Hon. Adamson Oluwatosin Ayinde, described capacity building as fundamental to Nigeria’s quest for economic diversification and industrial growth.
“As we seek to reduce dependence on oil revenues, the industrial sector must emerge as a critical pillar for sustainable development. However, this can only be achieved through a workforce that is adaptable, innovative, and committed to lifelong learning,” Ayinde said.
He outlined key objectives of the summit to include to: assess the current state of the industrial workforce and identify skill gaps; foster collaboration among stakeholders; develop actionable, forward-looking manpower policies; encourage innovation and technology integration; as well as establish systems for tracking progress and implementation.
He explained that the planning committee’s responsibilities would include strategic agenda-setting, stakeholder coordination, resource mobilization, logistics management, and ensuring post-summit follow-up.
Ayinde noted the summit’s multi-sectoral relevance, stating that the committee members were drawn from institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Bank of Industry, BOI, Industrial Training Fund, ITF, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, SMEDAN, organised labour, and private sector groups.
On his part, the Director General of the ITF, Dr. Oluwatoyin Afiz Ogun, commended the initiative, noting that it aligns with ITF’s mandate to build local manpower to meet international standards.
Ogun cited the national initiative to retrain Nigerian artisans, SUPA programme, as a key step in fulfilling President Tinubu’s vision for human capital development.
“We must put an end to the importation of manpower. The ITF is ready to play its part in making this summit a success and calls on all stakeholders to contribute meaningfully.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Barr. Abdulghani Arobo, assured the gathering of the committee’s dedication to delivering a transformative and impactful summit.
“This is unprecedented in Nigeria’s history. For too long, we have neglected critical conversations on industrial manpower. This summit, thanks to the foresight of Hon. Ayinde, provides a turning point,” he said
Arobo pledged to uphold the committee’s mandate and emphasized the importance of aligning human capital development with national industrial goals.
“As we chart a path towards industrialization, this summit must provide clarity, purpose, and an actionable roadmap for workforce transformation,” he said.
