Alaafin calls for human capital development to drive Nigeria’s industrial growth

By Adejayan Gbenga –

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, has urged Nigerians to envision a future where local innovations and exports proudly bear the label “Made in Nigeria.”

He made this call on Tuesday at the National Industrial Manpower Summit held at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

In a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the monarch stressed that the world is undergoing rapid changes in skills and technology, and training should be a continuous process for all employees to adapt to emerging technologies and global best practices.

According to him, low- and mid-level workers must acquire new skills, while managers and executives need deeper understanding of industry challenges, policy frameworks, and strategic planning. He maintained that manpower development must be central to Nigeria’s industrial transformation agenda.

The two-day summit, themed “Manpower Development: The Bridge Between Potential and Productivity”, was organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. It brought together traditional rulers, captains of industry, technocrats, and other key stakeholders.

Oba Owoade stressed the importance of partnerships between government, industry, traditional institutions, and communities, while calling for greater inclusion of women in leadership roles, noting their historic contributions to commerce, governance, and innovation in Nigeria.

Drawing from the Oyo Empire’s legacy, he said strong systems have always depended on skilled people through structured training and knowledge transfer. He urged participants to focus on manpower development not only in boardrooms, but also through education, vocational institutes, mentorship, and apprenticeships.

Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, described the summit as a strategic intervention to address Nigeria’s skills gap, while the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development, Hon. Adamson Oluwatosin Ayinde, said human capital remains the most critical infrastructure for national growth.