Nigeria cannot build world-class economy with underdeveloped workforce – CIPM

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has actually required intentional and continual financial investment in human capital advancement as a vital requirement for opening Nigeria’s financial capacity and speeding up the development of in your area produced items and services.

The Institute made the call at its second-half edition of the 2026 Advocacy Roundtable themed, “Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: The Critical Role of Human Capital in Driving ‘Made in Nigeria’ Growth.”

Speaking at the occasion, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, FCIPM, fnli, stated Nigeria’s financial difficulty is not an absence of natural deposits or skill, however the country’s failure to properly establish and harness its human capital.

Drawing a contrast in between Nigeria and Singapore, Mallam Gobir kept in mind that while Nigeria is highly endowed with oil, gas, minerals, fertile land, and a vibrant population, nations with less natural benefits have actually taped substantially more powerful financial results by prioritising financial investments in individuals, abilities, organizations, and business.

“Before we demand what is Made in Nigeria, are we investing adequately in those who must make it?” Mallam Gobir asked. “We can not construct a first-rate economy with an underdeveloped labor force. Neither can we desire international competitiveness while dealing with human capital advancement as an afterthought,” he included.

The CIPM President worried that the future of Nigeria’s industrialisation program would be figured out not simply by offered resources however by the abilities, efficiency, and abilities of the country’s labor force.

He required more powerful cooperation amongst federal government, market, academic community, and expert organizations to bridge crucial abilities spaces, enhance labor force performance, and position native business for sustainable development.

Representing the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chris Osa Isokpunwu, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, stated establishing the best labor force abilities stays main to accomplishing Nigeria’s aspiration of decreasing reliance on imported products and enhancing regional production.

According to him, the federal government is working to line up abilities advancement with the requirements of producers and crucial sectors of the economy, while likewise promoting financial investments in little and medium-sized business through organizations such as the Industrial Training Fund and the Bank of Industry.

“We require to establish the abilities of our labor force to produce what we require. We need to concentrate on farming processing, digital abilities, and technical proficiencies that satisfy regional need and assistance production development,” he stated.

Speaking at the occasion, Patrick Ajah, vthe MD/CEO of May & & Baker Nigeria Plc, promoted more powerful cooperation in between market and instructional organizations to attend to the nation’s abilities deficit and enhance labor force preparedness.

He advised policymakers to make sure academic curricula are lined up with market requirements and required increased direct exposure of trainees and speakers to useful office experiences.

“Large organisations need to start to partner with universities since they have the centers and devices needed to offer trainees useful direct exposure and industry-relevant abilities,” he specified.

Ajah likewise worried the significance of staff member well-being, competitive reimbursement, succession preparation, and constant labor force advancement in structure sustainable organisations and improving efficiency.

On her part, Folake Oyemade, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sam & & Sara Ventures Limited, stated Nigerians have actually regularly shown strength, imagination, and business whenever the ideal chances are offered.

She argued that the success of the Made-in-Nigeria project would mainly depend upon the quality and competitiveness of in your area made items.

“Nigerians will constantly gravitate towards Nigerian-made items once the quality is ideal and the items are competitively priced,” she stated.

Contributing to the conversation, Ayuba Gadzama, General Manager HR & & General Services, BUA Foods Plc, representing Dotun Adako, called for higher financial investment in innovation, entrepreneurship, and labor force reskilling, especially in synthetic intelligence (AI), to make sure Nigerian companies stay competitive in a quickly altering economy.

He likewise promoted continual public awareness projects and more powerful partnership amongst companies, universities, and federal government to develop customer self-confidence in locally made items.

The roundtable concluded with a strong agreement that Nigeria’s aspiration to construct a worldwide competitive Made-in-Nigeria economy will depend less on the resources underneath the ground and more on the understanding, abilities, efficiency, and development of its individuals.

As stakeholders chart a course towards commercial development and financial improvement, individuals concurred that purchasing human capital is no longer a policy alternative however a nationwide important.