“Tinubu Unveils First-Ever National Industrial Manpower Development Policy”

President Bola Tinubu has unveiled plans for Nigeria’s first-ever National Industrial Manpower Development Policy, emphasising that the country’s greatest resource lies in its people rather than its natural endowments, according to IReporter Online.

Delivering a keynote address at the opening of the National Industrial Manpower Summit (NIMS) 2025 in Abuja, Tinubu — represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima — stressed the urgent need to close the gap between educational outcomes and industry needs.

The summit, themed “Manpower Development: The Bridge Between Potential and Productivity”, brings together government officials, industry leaders, academics, and international partners to create actionable strategies for workforce growth.

Tinubu told participants that Nigeria’s youthful population is both an opportunity and a responsibility.

“We must make our young people not just a demographic statistic but a central component of our policy-making process,” he said.

He added that human capital development, along with infrastructure and sound policies, is the bridge between progress and regression.

The president said the summit would produce recommendations forming the basis of the historic manpower policy and pledged swift adoption and implementation of viable proposals.

He also called for an industrial skills database, sector-specific manpower roadmaps, and greater recognition of vocational and technical professions.

The policy push, according to IReporter Online, is aimed at reversing the mismatch between what schools produce and what the economy demands, ensuring Nigerian workers are equipped for the technological shifts of the modern economy.

Tinubu warned that failing to adapt would widen the country’s skills gap and limit its global competitiveness.

Several ministers and top officials praised the initiative, including the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, who described the summit as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey toward matching productivity with potential.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, noted that manpower development is central to attracting and retaining investment for industrialisation.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Mohammed Dingyadi, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development, Mr. Adamson Oluwatoyin, also highlighted the need for collaboration across government, private sector, and academia to deliver on the manpower vision.

The Director General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Ogun Oluwatoyin, commended Tinubu’s foresight in aligning the right expertise with key manpower development agencies.

The summit, according to IReporter Online, is expected to set national skills targets, establish a unified direction for industrial manpower planning, and solidify Nigeria’s path toward a more productive and competitive economy.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”