Vice President Kashim Shettima affirmed the Nigerian government’s commitment to elevating the nation into the top 80 countries on the global Human Capital Index (HCI) by 2030. Speaking in Uyo during the launch of Akwa Ibom State’s National Human Capital Development (HCD) Accelerator Project and the ARISE HCD Strategy, he emphasized that this goal would be achieved by strengthening the workforce and improving socioeconomic conditions nationwide.
In a press statement signed by Stanley Nkwocha, SSA to The President, Office of the Vice-President, Senator Shettima commended Akwa Ibom for being the first state to implement the national HCD blueprint across all its local government areas, stressing the importance of grassroots implementation for policy success. He highlighted the introduction of the HCD 2.0 program, focusing on integration and impact, and announced the launch of a data-driven HCD Dashboard to precisely monitor key development indicators.
The Vice President lauded Akwa Ibom’s progress in key metrics, including a lower under-five mortality rate and a significantly smaller percentage of out-of-school primary-age children compared to national averages. As part of the national strategy, he also unveiled Project Fuuku, a clean cookstove initiative aimed at improving public health, empowering women, and addressing climate concerns.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of these human capital development efforts, VP Shettima announced plans to institutionalize an HCD Fund. He underscored the government’s determination to prioritize investment in its people’s health, education, and opportunities, recognizing it as the most enduring legacy.
