The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has called for stronger private sector involvement and coordinated reforms to address persistent gaps in Nigeria’s human capital development.

The call was made at the Human Capital Development (HCD) Policy Forum held in Lagos, where stakeholders from government, development agencies and the private sector met to review progress and set priorities under the national HCD programme.

The forum, convened by NESG as secretariat of the Private Sector Partnership Group (PSPG), focused on aligning investments in health, education and skills with long-term economic growth.

Nigeria continues to face funding constraints, weak institutions and poor coordination in implementing human capital policies, despite existing frameworks. The HCD programme, launched by the National Economic Council, targets improvements in health, education, skills and labour participation as drivers of productivity.

Speaking at the event, NESG Chief Executive Officer, Tayo Aduloju, said the country must move from fragmented efforts to coordinated action.

He stressed the need for transparency, shared ownership and stronger collaboration across sectors, noting that existing insights must translate into measurable outcomes.

Also speaking, Special Adviser to the President on National Economic Council and National HCD Coordinator, Rukaiya El-Rufai, said Nigeria’s growing population makes sustained investment in human capital urgent.

She said the revised HCD 2.0 framework shifts focus to measurable outcomes, with priorities in health, education, skills and livelihoods, alongside gender inclusion, climate resilience and digital access.

According to her, new measures include a dedicated HCD budget line for 2026, stronger governance under NEC and plans for a national data dashboard to improve tracking and accountability.

Development leaders at the forum identified weak implementation, poor data systems and low public awareness as major barriers to progress. They noted that while policies exist, execution remains a challenge.

They also highlighted the role of financial inclusion in supporting micro, small and medium enterprises, which account for the bulk of employment, and stressed the need to move young people from job-seeking to job creation.

Concerns were raised over the structure of programmes such as the National Youth Service Corps, with calls for reforms to better support skills development and entrepreneurship.

The forum also pointed to gaps in monitoring and evaluation systems, driven by limited funding and capacity, as well as poor coordination among stakeholders.

Stakeholders agreed that addressing these challenges requires broader collaboration beyond government, with the private sector playing a central role through its core operations, not just corporate social responsibility initiatives.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment to the HCD 2.0 agenda, built on three priorities: aligning policies with private sector investment, expanding early childhood and maternal health interventions, and promoting formal sector growth to shift workers from informal to higher-value employment.

The HCD programme aims to improve education, health and workforce participation, with the goal of building a more productive and competitive economy.