By Peter Akpah
POPULATION GROWTH AND HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IS THE THEME FOR 77 PARTICIPANTS OF COURSE 42, 2020
The director general national institute for policy and strategic studies (NIPSS) Prof Habu S Galadima welcome his excellency the vice president who was ably represented by the acting head of service of the federation Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan to inauguration of the executive course No 42 2020 at the apex NIPSS, which was established by decree No 20 of 1979, now cap N51 law of the federation of Nigeria 2004, with the primary objectives of serving as the nation foremost policy think tank, developing a crop of top class technocratsof high
Intelligent capacity, who will conceptualise and anchor the implementation of innovative and dynamic policy initiative and strategies critical to nation development to achieved it’s mandate, the institution conducts courses for the top level policy makers and executors, it also conducts Public policy research all geared the establishment of a better Nigerian society.
Prof Galadima also said the institution over the time has served as capacity extension of government and has systematically been opening up new perspective and always framing and analysing issues as well as putting up implementation strategies that are configured to run on the operating systems of policy makers indeed it has the capacity to served as important catalyst for ideas and action, and the flagship training programme of the National Institute is for senior executive course and the participants on the course are drawn from the Armed Forces, the Nigerian police, para-military and other security agencies, federal and state civil service, professional bodies, women societies and the organised private sector, participants from the military must be of the rank of colonel or equivalent in other service, those from the police and para-military must have attained the rank of commissioner and comptrollar respectively and those from the federal civil service should not be below Director and those from the state must have attained the position of a permanent secretary and participants from the private sector must be chief executive officers or very senior managers in their organisation this the professor took time to explain.
The DG Prof Daladima after highlighting all the necessary areas congratulates the nominees of the senior executive course 42, 2020, for being found worthy to participate in this year prestigious course, he said as we may be aware the adimission process is highly competitive as the institution accommodate only a fraction of the application, prof Galadima said the course is aimed at expanding the out look and perspective of the participants and to stretch their conceptual capacity and quality of discernment and analysis and in this respect the course seeks to improve the overall performance of the participants in their different professions as well as prepare them to appreciate short and long term national planning process during the 10 month duration of the course, the participants will be exposed to the highest levels of intellectual and cross-fertilising discourse aimed at sharpening their understanding of national issues and widening their perspectives and quality of discernment.
The Institute Yearly Mr President approves a particular theme on a burning national issues the course participants to research into and make policy recommendations based on their findings, this year theme approved for Sec 42, 2019 is POPULATION GROWTH AND HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA AND OPPORTUNITIES, the theme have been structured into six sub theme Namely
1. Understanding population growth and human development
2. Trends in population growth and human capital development in Nigeria
3. frameworks for managing population growth and human capital development in Nigeria
4. Population growth and human capital development in Nigeria, challenges and opportunities
5. Population growth and human capital development comparative analysis
6. Population growth in Nigeria policy options and strategies
Prof Galadima said these sub theme are located within the NIPSS extant courses modules which encompass subjects such as leadership,policy and strategy, understanding the Nigerian state leadership policy, strategy, research methodology.
In administering the oath justice A Ashoms who represented the chief judge of plateau state charge the participants to take the oath seriously and work for the benefit of the country and they should use this opportunity wisely to impact positively to the society at large.
The representative of the governor of plateau state the head of service Azi Izang mni in a good will msg said the government will provide adequate security and also cooperate with the institution as well as developmental project such as good roads and also wish the participants a happy stay as the study.
The representative of the vice president prof Yemi Osinbajo the acting head of service of the federation gave her remarks as follows
am pleased to be at the National Institute for Policy
and Strategic Studies, Kuru, on the occasion of the
inauguration of the Senior Executive Course 42, 2020 of
the National Institute. I heartily congratulate the
nominees of the Course for successfully scaling through
the rigorous and intensely competitive selection process
of admission into the programme this year. You should
count yourselves highly privileged to be nominated to
participate in this flagship course of the nation’s foremost
‘Think-Tank’ for policy and strategy. I am aware that the
ten-month period of the course would be very engaging
as it is designed to test and develop all aspects of your
leadership and intellectual skills and capabilities.
2. When in 2019, I approved the theme of your study,
Population Growth and Human Capital
Development, the decision was largely motivated by the
sincere desire of my Administration to articulate
evidence-based and appropriate responses to the
numerous challenges associated with the gap between
population growth and human capital development in
Nigeria. Over the years, successive governments,
including this Administration, have done much to address
these challenges. In the past, policy response might not
have been borne out of hard evidence and this could
account for lack of success in achieving specified
objectives. It is a fundamental truth that Nigeria’s
population growth rate is pretty high. Between 1991 and
2006 when the last population census exercise was
conducted, our annual growth rate is put at 3.18 percent
(NBS, 2018). At this annual growth rate, it is estimated
that Nigeria’s population in 2050 will be about 543
million. Clearly this population size will be more of a
burden than an asset, unless there is an appropriate and
commensurate growth in the economy to take care of the
growing population.
3. This Administration is determined to fashion out
appropriate policy response to the challenges inherent in
a rapid population growth without corresponding
expansion in socioeconomic and physical infrastructure to
bring about appropriate equilibrium. As you are aware,
one of the cardinal objectives of the Economic Recovery
and Growth Plan (ERGP), a fundamental policy thrust of
this Administration, is investing in the Nigerian people.
This is consistent with the demand for human capital
development to redirect the population growth from
negative path to positive path. Human capital
development involves creating the necessary
environment for Nigerians, especially the youthful
component, to acquire relevant knowledge, skills and
competences that can help grow a healthy, productive
and progressive Nigerian society.
4. It is evidently clear that there is a close relationship
between the 2019 theme and the 2020 theme, in the
sense that high population growth will require
appropriate funding for health care delivery to keep the
population healthy and productive. This is a critical
component of human capital development. My
Administration is strongly committed to ensuring that the
exponential population growth rate of Nigeria does not
have a negative impact on the Nigerian society. Such
negative outcomes, such as unemployment,
underemployment, growing crime rate etc could be kept
within tolerable limit with evidence-based planning. It is
my Administration’s desire to design an appropriate
policy response through this year’s Study Report on
Population Growth and Human Capital Development, to
ensure that we do not have such a wide gap between the
two variables. Thus, I consider the theme for 2020 very
apt, timely and critical because of the need to ensure that
the primary purpose of governance, as enshrined in the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as
amended) which is the provision of security and well-
being of citizens, is guaranteed through close monitoring
and control of population growth for optimum human
capital development.
5. It is globally recognised that failure to develop
human capital will lead to inability to compete
economically and widen the socioeconomic gap between
the minority haves and the majority haves-not that could
bring about severe social dislocation with all the
catastrophic consequences for the society, including
undermining the foundation of civil society and our
democratic order. Human capital development, all over
the world, brings about high life expectancy and an
efficient and productive work force, which are critical
success factors in the enterprise of building a vibrant,
productive and resilient national economy.
6. The Federal Government has high expectations of the
nominees of Senior Executive Course No.42, 2020, given
the critical role of human capital development as a
response mechanism to rapid population growth in our
national economy. You should research carefully into this
theme in order to proffer policy options that will enable
Government fashion out appropriate responses to the
challenge of rapid population growth and slow pace of
human capital development. A well-articulated human
capital development can in itself, be an effective antidote
to exponential population growth.
7. Specifically, Government expects that at the end of
the Course, you will provide solutions to such issues as
the existing gaps in the institutional, legal and policy
frameworks for human capital development and how
these frameworks can be strengthened to make them
more responsive to the challenges of population growth.
You should also examine the experiences of other
that you remain committed, dedicated, disciplined and
focused throughout the period of the course.
10. I am personally delighted to observe that the
National Institute is meeting its mandate as the nation’s
apex Think Tank. NIPSS over the years has been
sufficiently responsive to the demands of government’s
well thought-out input to help in articulating effective
policies to the numerous challenges Nigeria is contending
with today. I urge the Institute to do more in this
direction. Over the years, the Institute has performed
excellently as a think tank institution to government. It
has provided policy recommendations and
implementation strategies on a wide range of issues of
national importance too numerous to mention. There is
no doubt that the National Institute has in the decades of
its existence shown immense capacity, competence and
strength of character in its role as Nigeria’s apex
institution for policy research and training.
11. While I congratulate the Board, Management and
Staff of the National Institute on these achievements, I
must emphasize the urgent need for the Institute to be
proactive in terms of challenges to national development.
The Institute no doubt possesses the requisite capacity
and capability to organise in-house seminars on critical
national issues and come up with relevant and useable
policy recommendations and implementation strategies
to help in the enterprise of nation building.
12. Let me at this point thank the Government and
People of Plateau State for providing the enabling
environment for the National Institute to carry out its
mandate successfully over the years. I urge both the
Institute and the host State to continue to work together
for the benefit of the larger Nigerian society.
13. On this note, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it
is my honour to inaugurate the Senior Executive Course
No. 42, 2020 of the National Institute for Policy and
Strategic Studies, Kuru. I wish you God’s guidance and
protection throughout your stay in Kuru
The Governor highlighted to the President the implementation of some Legacy Projects such as schools, hospitals, Judicial Complex and roads that the Rescue Administration has embarked upon, many of which will soon be completed. He said the State will be honoured to have the President Commission the projects as soon as they are completed.
Governor Lalong appealed to the President to intervene in construction of Federal Roads in Plateau State which include Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Road , Taraba State Border-Shendam-Namu-Nasarawa State Border Road, Panyam-Bokkos-Nasarawa State Border Road, Lantang-Wase-Bashar-Taraba State Border Road, and Jos-Jengre-Kaduna-State Border Road.
Lalong also expressed hope that congestion within Correctional Service facilities often caused by the large number of Detainees awaiting trial; indiscriminate arrest and detention of Persons by some Law Enforcement Agencies and the absence of effective coordination among the Institutions involved in Criminal Justice Administration will be drastically curtailed.
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