By: Felix Otaru, Lokoja
In a strategic move to enhance human capital development in Kogi State, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has inaugurated a seven-member Technical Working Group (TWG) saddled with driving policies that will improve education, healthcare, workforce, youth as well as women development.
The inauguration took place during the maiden meeting of the Kogi State Human Capital Development Council at the Office of the Deputy Governor in Lokoja which signals renewed commitment to fostering socio-economic growth through investment in people.
Speaking at the event, Kogi State Deputy Governor, Comrade Joel Salifu, who serves as Chairman of the Council emphasized that the TWG would provide expert guidance on policies targeting three critical areas: Health and Nutrition, Education, and Labour Participation.
Comrade Salifu highlighted that the initiative aligns with the National Economic Council’s Human Capital Development Programme, launched in 2018, which aims to accelerate economic progress and ensure sustainable development across Nigeria.
He underscored the importance of the initiative, stating that human capital development is at the heart of his administration’s vision for the state.
“The Human Capital Development Programme is about investing in our people to drive economic growth. With this Technical Working Group, we are taking decisive steps to strengthen this vision in Kogi,”
According to him, the group would play a vital role in shaping policies that translate into real benefits for citizens.
Governor Ododo further emphasized his administration’s determination to make Kogi a model state for human capital growth.
“Our ambition is not just to meet national benchmarks but to set the pace. We want to be at the forefront of human capital development in Nigeria,” he declared urging the TWG members to stay committed to their mandate, emphasizing that their work is a shared responsibility toward building a healthier, better-educated, and more productive Kogi State”.
The TWG, led by Dr. Abdullahi Sanni Ozomata as the focal person, consists of critical stakeholders which includes Directors of Planning, Research, and Statistics from key Ministries, Commissioners for Health, Education, Women Affairs, Youth and Sports, Donor Agencies, Senior Civil Servants as well as Labour Unions.
Dr. Ozomata said one of the key responsibility of the TWG is to analyze human capital indicators in the state, identify challenges in critical sectors, and recommend effective policy solutions.
He explained that the TWG will assess ongoing government interventions and propose improvements to boost social inclusion, workforce participation, and nutrition by conducting landscape analyses and evaluating existing policies.
The focal person noted that the TWG is expected to create a roadmap for sustainable human capital development in Kogi State that will add value to the people and in the long run improve infrastructure.
