Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured citizens that the federal government will reverse Nigeria’s growing unemployment rate and empower the nation’s workforce with globally competitive skills.
Speaking at the launch of the Nasarawa State Human Capital Development (HCD) Strategy Document & Gender Transformative HCD Policy Framework in Lafia on Saturday, Shettima emphasized that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to tackle the challenges plaguing Nigeria’s human capital development.
Shettima underscored the importance of the HCD Programme in addressing issues such as low labour force participation, unemployment, and the growth of the informal sector. “The unemployment rates, the growing informal sector, and low labour force participation must be reversed,” Shettima declared, noting that the programme is essential for creating a more favourable socio-economic environment for Nigerians.
The Vice President further highlighted the administration’s goal of equipping Nigerians with skills that can help them excel both domestically and internationally. “Our ambition transcends mere local success. We are committed to empowering Nigerian youth to export their skills globally, competing at the highest levels in the international marketplace,” he said.
He also stressed the need for the private sector’s involvement in this initiative to ensure access to resources, expertise, and innovation.
During the event, Shettima praised Nasarawa State for its leadership in implementing the HCD programme. He lauded the efforts of Governor Abdullahi Sule, describing the launch of the strategy document as a forward-thinking approach that aligns with the administration’s broader national goals.
Governor Sule, in his remarks, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to engaging its youth through sectors such as agriculture, health, and entrepreneurship. He noted that the Nasarawa State Investment and Development Agency was established to drive economic growth and development in line with the state’s strategic HCD goals.
Other dignitaries at the event, including the Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai, and Senator Ahmed Wadada of Nasarawa West, commended the efforts to foster human capital development in the state and across the nation.
El-Rufai reminded attendees that the National HCD programme, launched in 2018, remains central to addressing poverty and improving socio-economic conditions nationwide.
The event concluded with a visit to the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I (rtd), where Shettima commissioned a palace museum named in honor of the Shehu of Borno.
