Abuja: The Federal Government has expressed its commitment to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s industrial transformation through strategic human capital development. The Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, expressed this commitment while inaugurating seven planning committees for the forthcoming National Industrial Manpower Summit in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Enoh stated that the summit marked a decisive step towards repositioning Nigeria’s industrial trajectory through skilled and globally competitive manpower. He emphasized that the initiative is not merely an event but a declaration of intent, reflecting a collective resolve to ensure that Nigeria’s industrial growth is driven by skilled, equipped, and future-ready individuals, alongside infrastructure and sound policy.
The minister highlighted the ministry’s dedication to positioning Nigeria as a continental hub of industrial excellence, noting that ongoing reforms are aimed at removing structural bottlenecks, attracting investment, and enhancing value-added production. Enoh stressed the importance of having a capable workforce to power innovation, manufacturing, and enterprise, in addition to capital and policy.
Enoh further explained that the summit will serve as a convergence point for government, industry, academia, and international partners to redesign Nigeria’s industrial skills framework. The focus will include curriculum reform, digital literacy, technical certifications, and green economy competencies, all of which are key to meeting the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, industrialisation has become central to Nigeria’s economic policy, with significant investments being made in vocational training and skills development across the country. The President believes that the most important infrastructure of any nation is its people, and the summit is expected to set a generational standard for inclusive industrial growth and meaningful employment.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development, Adamson Ayinde, noted that the summit would help reposition Nigeria’s economy by addressing the industrial manpower gap. As Nigeria strives to diversify its economy, the industrial sector becomes a key pillar for sustainable growth, with success dependent on having a skilled, adaptable, and innovative workforce.
Ayinde outlined four key objectives for the summit: assessing the current industrial workforce, engaging stakeholders, formulating strategic policies, and promoting innovation and technology adoption within the sector. He urged the planning committee to develop an impactful agenda, coordinate stakeholders, mobilise resources, manage logistics, and ensure post-summit follow-up to drive implementation.
Dr. Oluwatoyin Ogun, Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), underscored the importance of ending the importation of skilled labor into Nigeria. He revealed that the ITF had commenced the retraining of Nigerian artisans under the SUPA programme to meet global standards and expressed full support for the initiative, aligning with the ITF’s mandate and the President’s vision for a skilled workforce that supports economic growth.
Mr. Abdulghani Arobo, Planning Committee Chairman, responded by promising that the committee would deliver a transformative summit and fulfill the expectations of all stakeholders. He noted that this marks the first national conversation on industrial manpower development and expressed determination to make the summit a success, laying a new foundation for Nigeria’s industrial future.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the summit committee includes members from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, ITF, Bank of Industry, NSITF, SMEDAN, labor unions, and the private sector.