Nigeria’s 127th position out of 130 countries ranked in the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2016 Human Capital Index is troubling. Given our profile as the largest economy in Africa and our vast human and natural resources, the natural reaction might be to refute this abysmal ranking. But then, is Nigeria actively and effectively developing its human capital?
The answer, we must say, is no. We can certainly do better. This is why, instead of disputing this ranking, Nigerians ought to see it as a wake-up call on the government to rise up to the challenge of developing and actualizing our enormous human capital potential.
Ordinarily, Nigeria’s huge population should be a source of strength. But, left untapped, undeveloped and poorly utilised as we have it in the country today, it is a liability. This is a challenge for the present and successive governments at all levels in the country.
In the report released last Tuesday, the WEF assessed the levels of education, skills and employment available to people in five different age groups. Out of the 130 countries ranked, human capital development of Nigerians between the ages of 0 and 14 years occupied the 128th position, youths in the 15 – 24 age group were placed 123 based on continued learning and employment quality.
On the basis of attainment and continued engagement, the report indicated that Nigerians between the ages of 55 – 64 placed 122nd while those who are 65 and above ranked 121st out of 130 based on continued opportunity and health.
From what can be gleaned from the WEF report, it was a painstaking exercise that was carefully structured to evaluate the pressing issues of the distinct age groups, on the basis of which the overall assessment was made.
Nigeria was fourth from bottom. The poor ranking of Nigeria in the 0-14 years age category is not surprising. Nigeria has one of the world’s highest infant mortality rates, a low Primary School enrolment rate (put at 65 percent), and a high incidence of child labour. We also have an estimated ten million out-of-school children, and badly equipped public primary and secondary schools.
There are poor public skill development opportunities for those in the 15 -24 years age group who are outside the school system while the number of our very elderly folks (65 and above) who lack access to basic healthcare and sustenance is appalling. Unemployment is at an all-time high, robbing a high percentage of our citizens of the opportunity to acquire experience and skills that could aid self-employment.
What the country needs to do quickly is to improve access to basic education, healthcare, housing, skill acquisition and employment. A number of our governments presently pay lip-service to compulsory, free education, but this is still a mirage, even at the primary school level. There are far too many children of school age out of school in all parts of the country. The problem is worse in the North-East of the country, where the Boko Haram insurgency has displaced thousands of families from their homes.
While the government-proposed one-meal-a-day programme for primary school children is helpful in shoring up enrolment, efforts must be made to provide adequate classrooms, teachers and teaching aids. When we get it right at that elementary stage (0-14) as a nation, we can be sure that we can build a solid structure on that foundation.
Many young Nigerians are engaged in all forms of child labour, hawking on the streets at great risks to themselves and to the shame of the nation. These children need to be removed from the streets, and put into classrooms where they can learn skills that will be useful to them and the nation.
For many of our children who are in school, there are challenges with their acquisition of skills that are relevant for today’s workplace. There is also the problem of adapting the school curriculum to improve the chances of self-employment. These two factors have combined to make unemployment, especially youth unemployment that has been put at 21.5 per cent, uncomfortably high.
Our youths need to be empowered to get jobs. When they are able to do this, they can be expected to improve their vast potential and hone their skills to the optimum. They need to be able to create jobs. The reality in the country today and the global trend is entrepreneurship.
Our schools and training institutions are presently not doing enough in this regard.
It is most unfortunate that in almost every area of socio-economic and human development, we are either at the bottom rung or close to the bottom rung of the ladder. Whether in life expectancy, Human Misery Index, access to potable water, sanitation, healthcare or basic education, we perform poorly.
Our governments should work hand-in-hand with all Nigerians to change this dismal outlook. It will take the right vision, sincerity of purpose and focused hard work to improve our dismal human development statistics. This is a challenge that our political leaders should tackle.