Nigeria needs skilled workforce to drive local production – CIPM – Daily Trust

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has referred to as for sustained funding in human capital improvement, saying Nigeria can not construct a globally aggressive financial system with no skilled, productive and progressive workforce.

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

Speaking on the occasion, CIPM President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, stated Nigeria’s financial problem was not a scarcity of pure sources or expertise however its failure to adequately develop and harness its human capital.

Comparing Nigeria with Singapore, he famous that nations with fewer pure sources had achieved stronger financial outcomes by prioritising expertise, establishments, enterprise and funding in folks.

“Before we insist on what is Made in Nigeria, are we investing sufficiently in those who must make it?” Gobir requested.

“We cannot build a world-class economy with an underdeveloped workforce. Neither can we aspire to global competitiveness while treating human capital development as an afterthought,” he stated.

He referred to as for stronger collaboration amongst authorities, trade, academia {and professional} establishments to shut expertise gaps, enhance productiveness and assist the sustainable development of indigenous companies.

Representing the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Chris Osa Isokpunwu, stated workforce improvement was central to decreasing dependence on imported items and strengthening local manufacturing.

He stated the federal government was working to align expertise improvement with trade needs whereas supporting small and medium-sized enterprises by establishments such because the Industrial Training Fund and the Bank of Industry.

“We need to develop the skills of our workforce to produce what we need. We must focus on agricultural processing, digital skills, and technical competencies that meet local demand and support manufacturing growth,” Isokpunwu stated.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Patrick Ajah, referred to as for nearer partnerships between industries and academic establishments to tackle the abilities deficit and enhance graduates’ readiness for employment.

He urged companies to present college students and lecturers with sensible publicity to office applied sciences and trade necessities, whereas encouraging academic establishments to align their curricula with employers’ needs.

Ajah additionally harassed the significance of worker welfare, aggressive remuneration, succession planning and steady coaching in bettering organisational efficiency.

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sam & Sara Ventures Limited, Folake Oyemade, stated the success of the Made-in-Nigeria marketing campaign would rely largely on the standard and affordability of domestically manufactured merchandise.

“Nigerians will always gravitate towards Nigerian-made products once the quality is right and the products are competitively priced,” she stated.

Oyemade’s place highlighted the significance of constructing local merchandise aggressive sufficient to entice shoppers, reasonably than relying solely on appeals to patriotism.

Also talking, Ayuba Gadzama, General Manager, Human Resources and General Services at BUA Foods Plc, who represented Dotun Adako, referred to as for higher funding in expertise, entrepreneurship and workforce reskilling, significantly in synthetic intelligence.

He stated companies wanted to equip staff with related expertise to stay aggressive as expertise reworked production and office practices.

Gadzama additionally advocated public consciousness campaigns and stronger cooperation amongst employers, academic establishments and authorities to construct shopper confidence in domestically produced items.