Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, through the National Economic Council (NEC) which he heads, will host an international forum to launch the Integrated Regional Human Capital Development Strategy in a determination to significantly improve the human development indices in West Africa.
A statement today, June 22, by his spokesperson, Laulu Akande, said that the conference, scheduled for Abuja tomorrow, June 23, will have in attendance, leaders in the public and private sectors across the ECOWAS sub-region, reviewing strategies on human capital development, while the launch of the integrated strategy document will be the high point of the event.
Akande said that other partners participating in the forum include the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; the World Bank; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Aliko Dangote Foundation, among others.
He said that the Human Capital Development programme was launched in March 2018 by the National Economic Council (NEC) and that the programme was conceptualized with the realization that human capital development plays a critical role in addressing poverty and ensures participatory and sustainable economic growth.
“The goal of the National HCD Vision – which was launched at an extended meeting of NEC focused on the Human Capital Development in December 2018 – is for “Healthy, Educated and Productive Nigerians by the Year 2030”, with targets across three thematic areas; namely Health and Nutrition, Education and Labour Force Participation.”
Akande said that the Vice President insisted on improved cooperation among West African countries to address the issues of healthcare access, out-of-school children among other human development indices.
Professor Osinbajo, in a separate audience with the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, Nuno Gomes Nabiam, in Abuja said: “the Human Capital Development meeting is very important, and it is an opportunity to share experience and help each other.”
“National Economic Council (NEC) has done a lot of work on Human Capital Development, focusing on various challenges including questions around out of school and healthcare access.”
The Vice President acknowledged that the indices show that a lot more work still needed to be done, even as he commended President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau for his strong support for Nigeria, describing him as a very good friend of the country and President Muhammadu Buhari.
