Rukaiya el-Rufai Leads Shift to State-Level Human Capital Focus

Rukaiya el-Rufai, the National Coordinator of the National Human Capital Development Programme, announced a strategic shift from a broad national approach to a focus on state-level data to achieve measurable outcomes in human capital development. During a presentation to journalists, she explained that each state will generate its own data, identify priorities, and create plans with guidance from the programme.

El-Rufai noted disparities in outcomes between northern and southern states, indicating that a one-size-fits-all approach is ineffective. The programme has engaged with the World Bank to facilitate state-by-state tracking of human capital measures.

The second phase of the programme has expanded its platforms, with private sector partners organized around sustainability. El-Rufai highlighted notable progress in states like Imo, Nasarawa, and Anambra, each implementing unique initiatives.

She emphasized the importance of embedding human capital development in state budgets and urged media collaboration to hold politicians accountable for progress in this area.