Tinubu unveils first national industrial manpower development policy

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday announced plans for Nigeria’s first-ever National Industrial Manpower Development Policy, declaring that the nation’s greatest asset lies in its people, not its natural resources.

Delivering his keynote address at the opening of the National Industrial Manpower Summit (NIMS) 2025 at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, warned that without urgent investment in skills and stronger links between education and industry, Nigeria risks falling behind in the global economy.

“With a median age of 17, Nigeria is an incredibly young country. This youthfulness is a gift, but also a responsibility,” Tinubu said.

“We must make our young people not just a statistic but a central pillar of policymaking. We cannot afford to divest from our people; the world will not pause to wait for us.”

The summit, themed “Manpower Development: The Bridge Between Potential and Productivity,” brings together government officials, industry leaders, academia, and global partners to design actionable workforce strategies.

The President tasked participants to deliver practical recommendations that will form the backbone of the new policy, promising swift adoption and implementation by his administration. He called for an industrial skills database, sector-specific manpower roadmaps, and greater dignity and opportunity for vocational and technical trades.