By Israel Adamu, Jos

The Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD) has called for urgent investment in the training, retention and continuous development of Nigerian professionals to build a self-replenishing workforce capable of driving the country’s economic transformation.

The institute warned that the migration of skilled professionals, popularly known as the “Japa syndrome,” rapid technological changes and shifting economic realities had made it imperative for Nigeria to rethink its approach to human capital development.

The National President and Chairman of NITAD, Mr. Bulus James, made the call on Monday in Jos at the institute’s 33rd annual conference, with the theme: “Talent Sovereignty: Engineering the Self-Replenishing Workforce for Nigerian Rebirth.”

James said the theme was not merely a conference topic but a strategic blueprint for national development, stressing that a nation’s independence, economic stability and global competitiveness depended largely on its ability to develop, retain, control and continuously renew its human capital.

He said NITAD was established to provide a professional home for human resource development practitioners and create a platform for transforming training from an ad hoc administrative function into a strategic imperative for organisations and the nation.

According to him, Nigeria must take ownership of its talent development pipeline by strengthening training, mentorship, succession planning and professional development across institutions.

“The future of our nation depends on our ability to deliberately grow, retain and deploy homegrown talent across all sectors,” James said.

He noted that the three-day conference was designed to be interactive and insightful, providing participants with practical strategies that they could take back to their respective organisations to improve talent development.

The NITAD president said the country’s workforce could not be sustained if organisations failed to deliberately prepare younger professionals to take over from experienced personnel who retire, resign or migrate.

He added that the combination of skilled migration, rapid technological advancement and economic changes required a fundamental shift in the way organisations and governments managed human capital.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Dr. Salas Ali Agara, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr. Edmund Onwuliri, said Nigeria’s youthful population represented both an opportunity and a challenge.

Onwuliri said about 60 per cent of the country’s population comprised people below the age of 35, stressing that how the demographic advantage was managed would significantly determine Nigeria’s development trajectory.

“This is a blessing and at the same time a burden. A burden in the sense that if we do not manage these demographics very well, we are going to have problems.

“But how well we manage it will go a long way in defining and shaping our national journey and national development,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to develop policies and programmes that would equip young Nigerians with relevant skills and create opportunities for them to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Samuel Jatau, commended NITAD for placing human capital development at the centre of its annual conference.

Mutfwang stressed the need for stronger collaboration between government, professional bodies, training institutions and the private sector to bridge existing skills gaps.

He said the state government was willing to collaborate with relevant institutions to strengthen workforce development and create platforms capable of equipping residents with skills required in the modern economy.

In his remarks, the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, said Nigerians who travelled abroad in search of better opportunities should do so with internationally recognised skills and certifications.

Ogun said the objective should not be to discourage Nigerians from seeking opportunities abroad, but to ensure that those leaving the country were adequately skilled to compete globally and contribute to Nigeria’s economy through remittances and knowledge transfer.

“We want them with Japa with good name. Japa with international certification and local certification. Japa with readiness to work. Japa that will bring in the dollars home,” he said.

He noted that skilled Nigerians working abroad could become a source of foreign exchange and expertise for the country if properly trained and certified.

Ogun urged government and relevant institutions to intensify investment in vocational, technical and professional training to ensure that Nigerian workers could compete favourably in the international labour market.

Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the Emir of Wase, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Learning and Development Network International and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of Plateau State.

The conference brought together government officials, human resource development professionals, representatives of the ITF and NTA, traditional institutions and other stakeholders from across the country.

By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo

At least 36,477 women across 20 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State have benefited from various interventions under the Ibom Open Maternity (IOM) Medical Outreach.

The project, organised by the Carelife Character Foundation in conjunction with the Patience Umo Eno Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) and other partners, provided free antenatal and postnatal care, medical consultations, maternal health literacy and other essential healthcare services.

Convener of the IOM Project and Chief Executive Officer of the Carelife Character Foundation, Dr. Aniekeme George, disclosed this during a dinner and award ceremony held to mark the end of the two-week medical outreach.

George said the initiative attended to thousands of pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under the age of five across the state.

He said the achievements recorded by the project would not have been possible without the contributions and support of partners involved in the initiative, expressing appreciation to the organisations and individuals who supported the programme.

The convener also commended the award recipients, particularly the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Helen Obareki, who received the “Safe Motherhood Ambassador” award for her commitment to improving maternal and child healthcare.

Speaking after receiving the award on behalf of Obareki, GIFA Team Lead, Mrs. Anne Abraham, expressed appreciation to the IOM Project for recognising the coordinator’s efforts towards advancing the wellbeing of mothers and children.

She assured that GIFA would continue to support subsequent editions of the IOM Project with a view to expanding access to essential maternal and child healthcare services and ensuring that more women and children across the state benefit from the initiative.

Abraham also commended the IOM team and its partners for their commitment to taking healthcare services and health education closer to women and families.

She noted that sustained collaboration among stakeholders would contribute significantly to reducing maternal and child mortality in Akwa Ibom State.

Other award recipients included the Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), Centre for Clinical Care and Research (CCCRN), Ibom Air, Imabridge Africa, Mary Slessor Akan/Glo Foundation, Helen Keller International, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Wives of All Local Government Chairmen (WALGON), as well as other organisations and individuals who contributed to the success of the IOM Project.

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has vowed to immediately demolish houses built on waterways and drainage channels that have been identified as contributing to flooding in the Federal Capital Territory.

Wike made the declaration on Tuesday after inspecting flood-affected areas in Maitama and its environs alongside senior officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

Speaking to journalists after the inspection, the Minister said the administration would no longer tolerate structures obstructing natural water channels, stressing that such buildings would be removed before the weekend.

“Heaven will not fall. All those houses will go down before Saturday,” Wike declared.

He also urged residents to stop dumping refuse on drainage paths, noting that while the government has a responsibility to address flooding, citizens must equally play their part in keeping waterways and drainage channels clear.

The Minister said the recent flooding in parts of Abuja was caused by both natural and human factors, particularly the construction of structures that block water channels.

“This is not the first time flooding is happening in the FCT. Flooding is a natural disaster. We are in a climate change period affecting all climatic conditions,” he said.

Wike noted that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had consistently issued forecasts on areas likely to experience flooding due to expected torrential rainfall.

According to him, although the intensity of recent rainfall was unusual, the government must tackle human activities that worsen the situation.

“We have gone there to see how people built to block water channels. There are man-made factors, and it is those man-made factors we have been trying to tackle, and we will continue to tackle,” he said.

The Minister also dismissed criticism of the administration’s handling of the flooding, urging political opponents and critics to establish the facts rather than politicise the situation.

He cited flooding in developed cities such as Dubai, the United States and the United Kingdom, stressing that flooding is a global phenomenon that can occur even in well-planned cities.

Wike, however, reaffirmed the administration’s political will to remove all man-made obstacles contributing to flooding in the FCT.

He urged residents to judge the government fairly, stressing that flooding is not a new phenomenon in Abuja but that the administration remains committed to addressing its underlying causes.