Rukaiya el-Rufai Calls for Human Capital Investment at NES#32

Rukaiya el-Rufai, the National Coordinator of the National Human Capital Development Programme 2.0 (HCD 2.0), addressed the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#32) on October 26 and 27, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. She stressed that Nigeria's prosperity hinges on investing in its people, focusing on health, education, skills, and employment opportunities.

El-Rufai advocated for a society-wide approach to human capital development, urging stronger coordination among businesses, government, and development partners. The panel session, titled “Business-Led Investment in Human Capital,” included contributions from Ekenem Isichei of the Gates Foundation, Dr Joe Abah from DAI Global, and William Benthall of Glovo and Delivery Hero.

El-Rufai illustrated the long-term impact of current decisions on future generations through the story of Amina, a Nigerian girl projected to be 22 in 2048. Current human capital indicators, including a 110 under-five mortality rate per 1,000 live births and 40 percent stunting in children under five, underscore the urgency of these investments.