Education
THE Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, has said that the Federal Government should pay special attention to human capital development since it is important for the development of the country.
Delivering the 2024 Bullion Lecture of the Centre for Financial Journalism with theme “Human Capital Development: Catalyst for Nigeria’s Prosperity” on Thursday in Lagos, Prof. Banku Obi said that many of the development challenges in the country could be traced to the little attention being paid to human capital development.
Describing human capital as consisting of skills, competences, knowledge and attributes that individuals have gathered over time to make it possible to realize their potential in society, she stated that human capital is the true engine of economic growth, social progress and national development.
According to her, these skills and experiences are also required for development of self, society or the nation.
The Vice Chancellor observed that Nigeria is endowed with abundant mineral resources, but that the country’s ‘’most valuable asset is not our abundant oil, our numerous mineral resources or our vast land, it is our people’’
“The flourishing wealth and success of a nation and the attendant socio-economic wellbeing and material condition of the people constitute its prosperity. It is a painful paradox that with all its wealth, Nigeria is not prosperous,” she said.
She lamented the poor investment in education by the Federal Government of Nigeria. “By comparison, the investment of Nigeria as a nation state in education is one of the least in Africa,” she said.
Speaking on how human capital development can serve as a catalyst for Nigeria’s prosperity, she stated that it can only happen when the nation invests adequately in the citizens through proper motivation and incentive, law-abiding, conscientious, hardworking, which will bring about economic growth, social progress and national development.
According to her, investing in human capital is akin to investing in the engine that propels the car.
She, however, called for the reform of the country’s educational curriculum and so that there should be more emphasis on technical education and mentoring.
A.
-April 19, 2024 @ 12:26 GMT|
Tags: Prof. Florence Banku Obi
