In line with the approach of the present Administration of Governor Seyi Makinde towards continuity, which centers on the philosophy that sustainable development and good governance require strong institutions and not just strong individuals, the state is in the process of establishing a Human Capital Development Agency.
The Oyo State Human Capital Development Agency is to act as an integrated one stop Secretariat for the coordination, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and feedback on all indicators for measuring Human Development across the State.
At a recent high level workshop that took place in Abuja, the Presidency also urged other state governments to strengthen and institutionalise human capital development plans, stressing that the success of Nigeria’s development agenda depends largely on effective implementation at subnational levels.
While speaking at the Workshop, the National Coordinator of the HCD Core Working Group, Ms. Rukaiya El-Rufai stated that Nigeria has the population, the energy, and the potential that need coordinated action, sustained commitment, and leadership that understands that human capital is not charity or routine expenditure. It represents critical strategy and investment. According to her, “in the end, the wealth of a nation is not buried under the ground. It walks on two legs, thinks with a human mind, and works with human hands.”
Several stakeholders at the meeting that brought goodwill messages and participated at the panel sessions included Economic Community of West African States, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Aliko Dangote Foundation, The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) (Former DFID) as well as representatives from different Federal MDAs as well as HCD Focal Persons from the 36 States and the FCT.
Speaking as one of the panelists on the intergovernmental panel focused on the Federal and State alignment with the HCD Strategy 2.0, the Oyo State Focal Person on Human Capital Development highlighted the efforts of the Oyo State Government towards moving from strategy to action through the recruitment and training of about 15,000 teachers by the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Teaching Service Commission as well as the Oyo State Ministry of Education.
He also revealed that the State has adopted technology-driven curriculums, which have improved literacy and numeracy outcomes for pupils, driven an increase in primary school enrollment as well as enhanced parent parent participation as they become more engaged with their children’s learning.
Towards the end of the high level Workshop, Rev. Idowu Ogedengbe, the Oyo State Focal Person was elected as the HCD Regional Coordinator for the South West, comprising Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun States.
