President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday announced plans for Nigeria’s first-ever National Industrial Manpower Development Policy, declaring that the nation’s greatest asset lies in its people, not its natural resources.

Delivering his keynote address at the opening of the National Industrial Manpower Summit (NIMS) 2025 at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, warned that without urgent investment in skills and stronger links between education and industry, Nigeria risks falling behind in the global economy.

“With a median age of 17, Nigeria is an incredibly young country. This youthfulness is a gift, but also a responsibility,” Tinubu said.

“We must make our young people not just a statistic but a central pillar of policymaking. We cannot afford to divest from our people; the world will not pause to wait for us.”

The summit, themed “Manpower Development: The Bridge Between Potential and Productivity,” brings together government officials, industry leaders, academia, and global partners to design actionable workforce strategies.

The President tasked participants to deliver practical recommendations that will form the backbone of the new policy, promising swift adoption and implementation by his administration. He called for an industrial skills database, sector-specific manpower roadmaps, and greater dignity and opportunity for vocational and technical trades.

Tinubu stressed that the rise of disruptive technologies demands a constantly evolving workforce, warning against widening Nigeria’s skills gap.

Earlier, Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, hailed the summit as a defining moment, describing it as a direct product of the President’s foresight in appointing the first-ever Senior Special Assistant on Industrial Training and Development.

Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said manpower development is vital to attracting investment and driving export-led growth under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, called for a coordinated national approach to skills development, while Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development, Mr Adamson Ayinde Oluwatoyin, described the summit as “a turning point” in shaping the future workforce.

ITF Director General, Dr Afiz Ogun Oluwatoyin, commended the President for his “square pegs in square holes” appointments, noting that cohesive policy direction is essential for mobilising national resources for skills advancement.