Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized on Saturday the urgent need to address Nigeria’s growing informal sector and low labor force participation, which are exacerbated by the country’s staggering unemployment rate.

Speaking at the launch of the Nasarawa State Human Capital Development Strategy Document and Gender Transformative Human Capital Development Policy Framework in Lafia, Shettima outlined the administration’s commitment to tackling unemployment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership.

He highlighted that the Human Capital Development (HCD) Programme aims to equip Nigerians with globally competitive skills, enabling them to thrive both domestically and in the international job market.

“Nasarawa State’s dedication to the HCD Programme is a crucial step for our nation,” he stated. “We must break free from the cycles that have hindered our progress, including high fertility rates, maternal and child mortality, and the vulnerabilities affecting life expectancy.”

He addressed the troubling statistics surrounding the education system, such as low mean years of schooling and high pupil-to-teacher ratios, along with the significant number of youth who are not engaged in employment, education, or training.

“This dystopia is what the Human Capital Development Programme aims to prevent under President Tinubu’s mandate. For too long, we’ve debated the ideal nation we want to build and the paths to achieve it,” he said.

Shettima stressed that the HCD programme prioritizes workforce development, education, and health to combat the nation’s human capital challenges. He reiterated that the initiative reflects the administration’s belief in crafting solutions tailored to the unique realities of each state.

The Vice President assured that the federal government is committed to ensuring that Nigerian youth gain employable skills, emphasizing the goal of enabling them to compete in the global market.

“Our partnerships with the private sector are vital for success,” he added. “By providing access to resources, expertise, and innovation, we aim to make human capital development the foundation of a more prosperous and competitive Nigeria.”