VP Shettima Flags Off HCD Accelerator In Uyo, Hails Gov Eno’s Grassroots Commitment

In a significant stride toward transforming Nigeria’s human development landscape, Vice President Kashim Shettima on April 15, 2025, launched the National Human Capital Development (HCD) Accelerator Project and the ARISE Human Capital Development Strategy in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The event marks a major milestone in the country’s journey toward achieving top-tier human capital standards by 2030.

Speaking during the launch, Vice President Shettima emphasized the Federal Government’s commitment to positioning Nigeria among the top 80 countries on the Global Human Capital Index (HCI) within the next five years.

He noted that this ambitious goal is attainable through sustained investment in the nation’s workforce and the improvement of socioeconomic indicators, particularly in education, health, and productivity.

Following the ceremony, the Vice President visited key ARISE HCD sites, including model primary schools and the ARISE Park—an innovative environmental reclamation and community development project aimed at creating a healthier, more sustainable living environment.

Praising Governor Umo Eno for Akwa Ibom becoming the first state to implement the national HCD blueprint across all its local government areas, Shettima described the initiative as a grassroots-driven revolution in human development. “Every policy or programme that intervenes in the lives of our people can only succeed if it’s rooted in the grassroots,” he stated. “The true wealth of any nation lies in the strength of its human capital: the education of its children, the health of its citizens, and the productivity of its workforce.”

The launch in Akwa Ibom is expected to inspire other states to follow suit in adopting the HCD Accelerator framework, reinforcing a nationwide drive to build a resilient, empowered, and competitive population for the future.