President Tinubu Welcomes Plan to Establish Nigeria’s First ever National Industrial Manpower Development Policy

President Bola Tinubu has revealed a plan on Tuesday to establish Nigeria’s first-ever National Industrial Manpower Development Policy.

In a keynote address at the inauguration of the National Industrial Manpower Summit (NIMS) 2025, held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, President Tinubu made an announcement, which was conveyed by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who stood in for him.

He said, “For a nation with a median age of about seventeen, Nigeria is an incredibly young country. This youthfulness is a gift, but it is also a responsibility.

“We must make our young people not just a demographic statistic but a central component of our policy-making process.

”We cannot afford to divest from our people because the world will not pause to wait for us.

“It is not just a forum for discussion; it is a call to produce actionable recommendations that will form the basis of Nigeria’s first-ever National Industrial Manpower Development Policy.

”I assure you that this administration will review, adopt, and implement viable proposals with urgency.

“Our mission is to align the education and training of our young people, and indeed the larger workforce, with the needs of industry.

“We must reverse the mismatch between what our institutions produce and what our economy requires.

”This cannot be realised unless we foster robust collaboration between the public and private sectors to prepare young Nigerians for the demands of today’s job market.

“This summit is not just a forum for discussion; it is a call to produce actionable recommendations.

“Let us commit to transforming the way we think about manpower, work, and the future of Nigeria’s industrial economy.”