Nigeria Cannot Build World-Class Economy with Underdeveloped Workforce – CIPM

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has called for deliberate and sustained investment in human capital development as a critical requirement for unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential and accelerating the growth of locally produced goods and services. The Institute made the call at its second-half edition of the 2026 Advocacy Roundtable themed, “Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: The Critical Role of Human Capital in Driving ‘Made in Nigeria’ Growth.”

Speaking at the event, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, FCIPM, fnli, said Nigeria’s economic challenge is not a lack of natural resources or talent, but the nation’s inability to adequately develop and harness its human capital.

Drawing a comparison between Nigeria and Singapore, Mallam Gobir noted that while Nigeria is richly endowed with oil, gas, minerals, fertile land, and a youthful population, countries with fewer natural advantages have recorded significantly stronger economic outcomes by prioritising investments in people, skills, institutions, and enterprise.

“Before we insist on what is Made in Nigeria, are we investing sufficiently in those who must make it?” Mallam Gobir asked. “We cannot build a world-class economy with an underdeveloped workforce. Neither can we aspire to global competitiveness while treating human capital development as an afterthought,” he added.

The CIPM President stressed that the future of Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda would be determined not merely by available resources but by the capabilities, productivity, and skills of the nation’s workforce.

He called for stronger collaboration among government, industry, academia, and professional institutions to bridge critical skills gaps, improve workforce productivity, and position indigenous enterprises for sustainable growth.

Representing the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu, said developing the right workforce capabilities remains central to achieving Nigeria’s ambition of reducing dependence on imported goods and strengthening local production.

According to him, the government is working to align skills development with the needs of manufacturers and key sectors of the economy, while also promoting investments in small and medium-sized enterprises through institutions such as the Industrial Training Fund and the Bank of Industry.

“We need to develop the skills of our workforce to produce what we need. We must focus on agricultural processing, digital skills, and technical competencies that meet local demand and support manufacturing growth,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the MD/CEO of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr. Patrick Ajah, advocated stronger collaboration between industry and educational institutions to address the country’s skills deficit and improve workforce readiness.

He urged policymakers to ensure educational curricula are aligned with industry needs and called for increased exposure of students and lecturers to practical workplace experiences.

“Large organisations must begin to partner with educational institutions because they have the facilities and equipment required to give students practical exposure and industry-relevant skills,” he stated.

Ajah also stressed the importance of employee welfare, competitive remuneration, succession planning, and continuous workforce development in building sustainable organisations and boosting productivity.

On her part, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sam & Sara Ventures Limited, Mrs. Folake Oyemade, said Nigerians have consistently demonstrated resilience, creativity, and enterprise whenever the right opportunities are provided.

She argued that the success of the Made-in-Nigeria campaign would largely depend on the quality and competitiveness of locally manufactured products.

“Nigerians will always gravitate towards Nigerian-made products once the quality is right and the products are competitively priced,” she said.

Also contributing to the discussion, Mr. Ayuba Gadzama, MCIPM, General Manager HR & General Services, BUA Foods Plc, representing Mr. Dotun Adako, FCIPM, called for greater investment in technology, entrepreneurship, and workforce reskilling, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), to ensure Nigerian businesses remain competitive in a rapidly changing economy.

He also advocated sustained public awareness campaigns and stronger collaboration among employers, educational institutions, and government to build consumer confidence in locally manufactured products.

The roundtable concluded with a strong consensus that Nigeria’s ambition to build a globally competitive Made-in-Nigeria economy will depend less on the resources beneath the ground and more on the knowledge, skills, productivity, and innovation of its people. As stakeholders chart a path towards industrial growth and economic transformation, participants agreed that investing in human capital is no longer a policy option but a national imperative.