Nasarawa State governor Abdullahi SuleAbdullahi Sule has pledged that his administration will fully implement the Nasarawa State Human Capital Development (HCD) Strategy, as well as the state’s Gender Transformative Human Capital Development Policy Framework.

Governor Sule made this pledge while delivering his speech shortly before Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima launched the two strategy documents at a ceremony held at the Government House on Sunday.

Drawing from the successes achieved through the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS), the Governor said his administration will also implement the state’s human capital development strategy—an actionable road map that will guide government interventions in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic empowerment.

Tagged ‘Accelerating Growth and Development 2024-2030,’ he explained that the Nasarawa State HCD strategy aims to propel the state into a new era of development, inclusivity, and economic prosperity.

“It is also important for me to emphasise that this plan not only prioritises human capital development and infrastructure but also strengthens governance mechanisms to ensure accountability, transparency, honesty, and efficiency in the use of public resources,” he stated.

Governor Sule added that the Nasarawa State Gender Transformative Human Capital Development framework is critical to the state’s program because gender equity is a cornerstone of sustainable development.

“It is for this reason that our administration continues to recognize that addressing gender disparities is not only a social responsibility but also an economic imperative, believing that women’s empowerment leads to significant gains in economic growth, poverty reduction, and social cohesion,” he said.

Sule noted that the framework will provide structural and policy support necessary to dismantle barriers hindering women’s participation in leadership and economic activities in the state.

The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to diversifying the economy through the efficient optimization of its abundant natural resources and fostering an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

“As we move towards 2030, the economic landscape of Nasarawa State—and, by extension, Nigeria—will continue to evolve. That is why our strategic plan is designed with flexibility and adaptability, allowing us to respond to emerging trends and global challenges,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Vice President Shettima said that the Federal Government’s goal is to empower Nigerians with globally competitive skills to enable workers to excel both domestically and internationally.

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“Nasarawa State’s commitment to the Human Capital Development (HCD) Programme, a lifeline for our nation, is built on the collective realisation that enough is enough. Enough of the cycles that have held us back. Enough of the legacies of unplanned high fertility rates and alarming maternal and under-five mortality rates. Enough of our vulnerable populations facing low life expectancy.

“Enough of the distressing data on our education system—whether it is the mean years of schooling, the high pupil-to-teacher ratios, or the staggering number of youths not in employment, education, or training. The unemployment rates, the growing informal sector, and low labour force participation must be reversed.

“This is the dystopia our Human Capital Development Program is designed to avert, under the mandate of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. For so long, at the National Economic Council, we have debated the ideal nation we wish to build and the pathways to achieve it,” he stated.

The VP attributed the launch of the strategy document and policy framework in Nasarawa State to the leadership and vision of Governor Sule, describing it as a forward-thinking approach that will make a difference.

Announcing that the government at the centre has already moved beyond the first phase of the HCD by adapting strategies to current realities and shifting from theory to implementation, he said Nasarawa’s entry at this pivotal stage is a promising sign of progress.

The Vice President added that he personally attended the event because Governor Sule understands the language of development.

While congratulating the state and all stakeholders for their dedication in making the strategy documents a reality, the Vice President also spoke on the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence in Nasarawa State.

“What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us. You are a blessed state, endowed with natural resources, arable land, solid minerals, and oil found in Keana. But these potentialities will remain what they are—potentials—unless they are translated into realities with peace. There can be no peace without development, and there can be no development without peace,” he stated.

Harping on the need to sustain the existing peace in the state, Shettima urged the people to unite and rally around Governor Sule to ensure the state’s progress.

“You will not know the value of Governor Sule until he leaves office. You will not appreciate him until he is no longer in the seat. The peace you enjoy now should be sustained at all costs. Join hands to maintain the prevailing peace in the state. We are all united by our common challenges of poverty, destitution, and underdevelopment,” he added.

On her part, the Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai, noted that the National Human Capital Development Program, unveiled in 2018, aims to address poverty, foster socioeconomic growth, and improve human capital across the country.

Earlier, in her opening remarks, the Director-General of the Nasarawa Human Capital Development Agency, Hajiya Habiba Suleiman, said the HCD strategy document for Nasarawa State outlines the direction for the development of human capital.

According to the DG, human capital is the most valuable asset any government can provide for its people.

The event also featured the distribution of cooking stoves, spaghetti, rice, and sewing and grinding machines to various indigent women’s groups in the state by the Vice President.