By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), as the Coordinating Secretariat for the Private Sector Partnership Group (PSPG) under the National Human Capital Development (HCD) programme, successfully convened the HCD Policy Forum.
The high-level hybrid event, themed “Charting Pathways for Collaborative Excellence & Private-Sector-Led Sustainable Human Capital Development,” served as a strategic platform to harmonise public and private sector efforts, bridge skills gaps, and institutionalise data-driven development as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic trajectory.
The Foundation
Human Capital Development (HCD) remains a critical driver of economic growth and national prosperity, yet Nigeria continues to face persistent challenges, including funding gaps, inefficient resource allocation, and weak institutional frameworks. In response, the National Economic Council (NEC) launched the National HCD Programme to strengthen investment in people and improve key development outcomes. The programme focuses on three core thematic areas; health, education and skills, and labour force participation and livelihoods, recognising that early and sustained investments, particularly in foundational stages of life, are essential to improving long-term productivity and national competitiveness.
As a strategic national priority, the HCD Programme also emphasises the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in addressing systemic gaps. To support this, the Private Sector Partnership Group (PSPG) was established to mobilise private sector expertise, resources, and innovation in advancing HCD outcomes. The HCD Policy Forum, convened under this platform, serves as a critical engagement mechanism to align stakeholders, identify practical solutions, and co-create actionable pathways for sustainable and inclusive development, with a strong emphasis on early interventions as the foundation for lifelong human capital growth.Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Leadership and Strategic Reflection
The forum convened a diverse group of stakeholders, including private sector leaders, philanthropies, and foundations, alongside key public and development institutions. Participants included the Nigeria Governors Forum, development partners such as the World Bank and United Nations Development Programme, as well as critical public sector institutions including the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria, Universal Basic Education Commission, and the National Bureau of Statistics.
At the event, Dr. Tayo Aduloju, CEO of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), called for a moment of reflection on the scale and urgency of the challenge. “This moment requires us to consider our next steps carefully.” He emphasised the importance of transparency, shared ownership, and cross-sector collaboration, noting that the insights presented demand a coordinated and deliberate response. He urged stakeholders to critically evaluate existing strategies and align efforts toward shifting Nigeria’s human capital trajectory in a sustainable and impactful way.
Key Insights from Dialogue
The forum featured a dialogue with business and development leaders.
Ms. Rukaiya El-Rufai, Special Adviser to the President on National Economic Council (NEC) and Climate Change/National HCD Coordinator, underscored the urgency of strengthening Nigeria’s human capital as the foundation for economic transformation. With Nigeria projected to become one of the world’s most populous countries by 2050, she stressed that sustained investment in health, education, and skills is critical to improving productivity, reducing poverty, and achieving the country’s long-term economic ambitions.
She further explained that the HCD 2.0 framework represents a strategic refinement focused on measurable outcomes rather than outputs, prioritising health, education and skills, and livelihoods, while mainstreaming gender inclusion, climate resilience, and digital and financial inclusion. She also highlighted strengthened governance structures under the NEC, the introduction of a dedicated HCD budget line in 2026, and plans for a national data dashboard to drive accountability. Emphasising sustainability and scale, she called for stronger private sector collaboration through targeted programme accelerators such as Adopt-a-School, primary healthcare support, and digital learning initiatives.
Key takeaways from the dialogue with business and development leaders include:
Financial inclusion is a critical enabler of human capital development, particularly for MSMEs, job creation, and economic participation.
There is low public awareness of both development challenges and existing interventions.
Poor coordination across stakeholders results in fragmented and siloed efforts.
Persistent data gaps, delayed data releases, and weak accountability systems limit effective planning and tracking.
Nigeria’s challenge lies more in implementation and execution than in the absence of policies.
The private sector’s core operations—not just CSR—are vital drivers of economic growth and human capital outcomes.
MSMEs remain the largest source of employment and hold significant potential to reduce unemployment if properly supported.
A shift from job-seeking to job creation, especially among youth, is necessary.
Programmes like NYSC require restructuring to better support skills development and entrepreneurship.
Nigerian youth are capable but constrained by limited opportunities and weak support systems.
Monitoring and evaluation systems remain weak due to funding and capacity gaps.
Addressing human capital challenges requires a whole-of-society approach beyond government action alone.
A Renewed Commitment: The Three Pillars
The forum concluded with a renewed commitment to the National HCD 2.0 agenda, anchored on three strategic pillars:
Integrated Policy Design: Aligning private sector investments with national HCD benchmarks for coordinated impact.
Early Intervention: Prioritising pre-primary education and maternal and child health to address developmental gaps at the root.
Formal Sector Growth: Driving the transition from informal labour to productive, high-value formal employment.
About the National HCD Programme
The National Human Capital Development Programme is a strategic initiative designed to accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth by investing in its people. Focused on improving outcomes in education, health, and labour force participation, the programme aims to build a productive, competitive, and future-ready workforce.
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