FG Kicks Off Preparations for National Industrial Summit

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Federal Government has expressed optimism that the upcoming National Industrial Manpower Summit will help equip Nigeria with a skilled workforce capable of thriving in a globally competitive environment.

Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, made this known while inaugurating seven planning committees tasked with organizing the summit.

He described the event as a crucial milestone in the country’s journey toward industrial transformation, emphasizing the central role of human capital development in driving sustainable growth.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Senator Enoh reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to positioning Nigeria as a leading hub of industrial excellence in Africa.

He noted that ongoing reforms are aimed at dismantling structural barriers, attracting investments, and boosting value-added production across key sectors.

However, the government recognizes that policies and capital alone are insufficient without a workforce prepared to power the engines of innovation, manufacturing, and enterprise.

In his words “The summit we are convening will serve as a strategic convergence point—where government, industry, academia, and international partners will collectively reimagine Nigeria’s industrial skills architecture. From curriculum alignment and technical certification, digital literacy and green economy competencies, the time has come to redesign our human capital pipeline for the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In his welcome address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development, Adamson Oluwatosin Ayinde identified capacity building as key to national industrialization and economic development.

“Today marks a significant milestone in our collective endeavour to reposition Nigeria’s industrial sector through strategic human capital development and the Imperative for Industrial Manpower Development Nigeria stands at a pivotal juncture in its economic trajectory” He stated

In his words, “As we strive to diversify our economy and reduce dependence on oil revenues, the industrial sector emerges as a critical pillar for sustainable growth. However, the success of this sector is intrinsically linked to the availability of a skilled, adaptable, and innovative workforce”.

Also speaking, the Director General of the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, Dr. Oluwatoyin Afiz Ogun says the time has come for Nigeria to put an end to importation of manpower hence the need for the National Industrial Manpower Summit.

Dr. Afiz-Ogun, notes that the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, would continue to strengthen human capacity development on the country through its training programmes nationwide.

“We in ITF have been given the mandate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to retrain Nigerian artisans towards meeting international standard and that we have started in a programme named SUPA therefore we’re very happy that this type of initiative is coming up at the right time towards actualizing the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s led administration in the area of human capacity building for national economic development” the ITF Boss stated.

In his words”We’re ready in the ITF family to ensure the realization of the objectives of the summit therefore let me use this opportunity to call on necessary stakeholders to support the initiative towards repositioning the nation’s economy and human capacity development”.

Responding on behalf of the Committee Members, the Chairman, Planning Committee of the Summit, Abdulghani Arobo promises not to betray the confidence reposed in them stating that the members would discharge the duty to the best of their ability.

According to him, nothing of such summit has happened in the history of Nigeria because stakeholders have refused having conversations around industrial manpower.

“We therefore assure him that his vision on this summit will be adequately realized and satisfied through the composition of right team for the summit,” he stated.

In his words”Let me also align with the Director General of ITF, Dr Oluwatoyin Afiz Ogun on the Agency’s intervention programme and initiative known as SUPA towards operating as support structure in actualizing the aims and objectives of the summit and this will also provide clarity, understanding and action plan for a country that is serious about development because we cannot talk about industrialization and economic development without human capacity development” Gani emphasized.