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Nath Gbaoron, Lafia
Governors from the six states in the North Central region of the country, on Thursday commenced a conference on Human Capital Development to proffer a lasting solution to poverty and other socioeconomic challenges affecting residents of the region.
The Nigerian Human Capital Development programme was launched by the Federal Government in 2018 to spur sustainable growth of the nation’s economy and improve life expectancy of its citizens.
Declaring the 2-day conference open in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, with the theme “Accelerating Human Capital Development in Nigeria”, the host Governor, Abdullahi Sule, said the conference will provide a platform for the Governors of the region to strategies on how to tackle unemployment and other challenges bedeviling residents of their respective states.
While commending the State’s Human Capital Development office for working tirelessly since its inauguration to alleviate the sufferings of the masses across the state, Sule, who was represented by his deputy, Emmanuel Akabe, assured that the state government will remain committed in the fight against poverty until it is completely eradicated.
“This conference is in line with the objectives of the National Economic Council to promote investment opportunities and foster synergy as well as developing partnerships between governments and the regions being the critical actors in the socioeconomic development of the country.
“I have no doubt that the conference will offer us the opportunity to know the challenges associated with human capital development and proffer workable solutions with a view to exploring business opportunities and form investment partnerships. So, I urge everyone of us to take the conference very seriously for the good of our respective states and Nigeria, our country,” Governor Sule added.
On its part, the North Central regional consultant on Human Capital Development, Dr. Victoria Daaor, said the conference would be participatory to enable all participants contribute to the discussion in order to address the numerous challenges confronting residents of the region.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Human Capital Development, Habiba Balarabe-Suleiman, expressed gratitude to the North Central Governors and other stakeholders from the region for being present at the occasion despite their tight schedules.
“Hopefully, this regional conference will ask questions that need to be asked and provide answers that will yield results towards improving the lives of even the most vulnerable persons in the region and the country at large. While hoping we all have a peaceful and result oriented deliberation, I am glad and honored to welcome you to Nasarawa State, the home of Solid Minerals,” Balarabe-Suleiman added.
Our correspondent reports that those present at the conference were the Deputy Governor of Niger State, Ahmed Mohammed, the representatives of other North Central Governors, top federal and state governments functionaries, traditional rulers, among others.