From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Federal Government has inaugurated seven planning committees for the forthcoming National Industrial Manpower Development Summit, aimed at transforming Nigeria’s industrial landscape by aligning it with global standards of workforce competitiveness and technological innovation.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, said the summit marks a critical step in repositioning Nigeria’s industrial sector by prioritizing human capital development.
“This initiative marks a defining step toward unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s industrial transformation through one of its most vital levers: human capital development,” the Minister stated. “The summit is not just an event — it is a declaration of intent.”
According to Enoh, the Ministry is committed to ensuring Nigeria’s rise as a continental hub of industrial excellence, adding that infrastructure and policies alone cannot drive this ambition without a skilled, innovative, and adaptable workforce.
The Minister emphasized that the National Industrial Manpower Summit will serve as a strategic convergence point where government, industry, academia, and international stakeholders will come together to reimagine the country’s industrial skills ecosystem. He highlighted the summit’s core objectives, which include:
Assessing the Current Workforce Landscape: Conducting a detailed analysis of existing manpower, identifying skill gaps, and defining priority areas for intervention.
Engaging Stakeholders: Coordinating input and participation from government institutions, private sector players, educational bodies, labor unions, and global partners.
Formulating Strategic Policies: Developing action-driven policies to tackle workforce challenges and anticipate future needs in emerging sectors.
Promoting Innovation and Technological Integration: Encouraging the adoption of digital literacy, green economy competencies, and future-facing skills across industries.
“This is the time to redesign our human capital pipeline to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Enoh said, noting that the summit will align training and education with industrial realities, including digital and green economy transitions.
The Minister added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has placed industrial development at the center of Nigeria’s economic policy. “Mr. President is clear-eyed in his belief that people are the most precious infrastructure of any nation,” he added, citing the administration’s investments in vocational training, workforce modernization, and revitalization of industrial clusters.
In his welcome address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development, Hon. Adamson Oluwatosin Ayinde, described the inauguration as a turning point for Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts.
“Nigeria stands at a pivotal juncture. As we strive to reduce dependence on oil, the industrial sector becomes essential for sustainable growth. This sector’s success hinges on a workforce that is skilled, adaptable, and innovative,” Ayinde said.
He noted that the fourth industrial revolution demands not just technical knowledge, but also creativity, problem-solving skills, and lifelong learning.
According to Ayinde, the Planning Committee’s responsibilities include:
Designing a Relevant and Impactful Agenda
Ensuring Broad Stakeholder Engagement
Mobilizing Resources for Successful Execution
Overseeing Seamless Logistics
Establishing Post-Summit Follow-up Mechanisms
Ayinde stressed that committee members were carefully selected from institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), organized trade unions (TUC), and key private sector organizations—reflecting an inclusive, multi-sectoral approach.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Afiz Ogun, stated that the time had come for Nigeria to stop importing manpower.
“We at ITF have already started retraining Nigerian artisans under our SUPA program to meet international standards,” Ogun revealed. “We commend this summit initiative as it aligns with the vision of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He assured that ITF is committed to building national capacity and called on stakeholders to support the summit’s goal of creating a self-reliant, industrially driven workforce.
In a response on behalf of the committee members, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Barrister Abdulghani Arobo, pledged to justify the confidence placed in them, describing the summit as unprecedented.
“Nothing like this has ever happened in Nigeria’s industrial history,” Arobo said. “This is the first time all stakeholders are converging to talk seriously about industrial manpower. We appreciate the foresight of the Senior Special Assistant to the President for initiating this timely agenda.”
He also praised ITF’s SUPA initiative, pledging that the summit would set a new national standard for how Nigeria approaches industrial workforce development.
“As we prepare for the summit, let us be guided by a singular vision: a Nigeria where industrial growth is inclusive, where employment is meaningful, and where every citizen has the opportunity to contribute to national prosperity,” Arobo concluded.