… As SSA Industrial Training and Development to the President present 1 million each to 10 Buisness owners

President Bola Tinubu has announced plans for Nigeria’s first-ever National Industrial Manpower Development Policy, emphasizing that the country’s greatest asset lies in its people rather than its natural resources. The policy aims to develop the nation’s human capital and drive industrial growth.

The announcement was made at the National Industrial Manpower Summit (NIMS) 2025, held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja. The summit brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and development experts to chart the course for the nation’s industrial manpower development policy.

Delivering the keynote address, Vice President Kashim Shettima GCON described Nigeria as “an incredibly young country” and emphasized the need to invest in human capital. He stressed that failure to do so would have dire consequences and called for increased investment in technical education, vocational training, and industrial capacity-building. “Nigeria’s greatest asset is our people,” he stated, stressing that failure to invest in human capital would have dire consequences. He called for increased investment in technical education, vocational training, and industrial capacity-building, affirming that improvement in human capital, alongside infrastructure and sound policy, is the bridge between development and setback. “This summit is not just a forum for discussion; it is a summit to produce actionable recommendations that will form the basis of Nigeria’s first-ever industrial manpower development policy,” the Vice President declared.

Senator John Owen Enoh, Honourable Minister of State for Industry, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to aligning manpower development with industrial needs, emphasizing education and training that meets global economy demands.

He stressed productivity’s importance and advocated for a National Skills Development Framework. This framework will help equip the workforce with skills for the future, enhancing Nigeria’s industrial competitiveness. The government aims to ensure the workforce is prepared for the evolving job market.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development, Mr. Adamson Ayinde Oluwatoyin, presented cheques worth N1 million each to 10 business owners, tagged “instant ticket winners”. The gesture is aimed at boosting the businesses of the beneficiaries.

The presentation was made at a time when the nation is working towards shaping the future of Nigeria’s workforce under the vision of President Tinubu and in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda. Mr. Oluwatoyin described the National Industrial Manpower Summit as a turning point in the collective quest to achieve this goal.

The beneficiaries were visibly elated as they received the cheques, with evident hope and gratitude on their faces. They had not expected such a gesture, and the presentation has given them renewed hope to boost their businesses.

The Director-General/CEO of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, reiterated the Council’s dedication to building technical skills, advancing technology, and promoting sustainable energy adoption. He highlighted the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), relaunched in 2023, which prioritizes skills acquisition and technology development as pillars for industrial growth. Mr. Osanipin outlined key NADDC achievements, including the development of National Occupational Standards for CNG retrofitting, electric vehicles, mechatronics, motorcycles, tricycles, and agricultural machinery, establishment of 22 Automotive Training Centres and the installation of EV charging and CNG stations nationwide, training initiatives that have equipped technicians, Quality Assurance Assessors, and over 500 youths with industry-relevant skills, and creation of automotive industrial hubs in Akure, Sokoto, and Owerri to strengthen local manufacturing capacity.

The summit concluded with a shared commitment by all stakeholders to implement actionable strategies that will enhance Nigeria’s human capital, strengthen industrial capacity, and drive long-term economic growth. The Director General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Ogun Oluwatoyin, said the summit provided an opportunity for policy dialogue, setting national targets in skills development, and discussing frameworks for mobilising national resources cohesively.