Shettima Urges Investment in Northern Nigeria's Human Capital

At the HCD Northern Summit held at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja, Vice President Kashim Shettima urged for urgent and sustained investment in the people of Northern Nigeria to reverse the decline in human capital outcomes. He represented the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, and highlighted that the region's greatest challenge is not a lack of potential but inadequate investment in its people.

Shettima noted that Northern Nigeria is not poor in spirit or numbers but suffers from the consequences of weak human capital investment, particularly against a backdrop of rapid population growth and global competition. He introduced the Human Capital Development (HCD) 2.0 strategy under the Tinubu Administration, aiming to improve health, education, and skill development to enhance the region's human capital index score to rank among the top 80 countries globally by 2030.

The Vice President called on governors, policymakers, and development partners to focus on measurable outcomes and ensure that investments translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.