By Ali Abare
The world is gravitating towards knowledge-driven economy. Though we are far behind compared to the developed societies where ideas, skills and services reign supreme, in Nasarawa State, a leader has come to initiate policy drives that effectively and efficiently combine both the traditional components of development vis-a-vis agriculture and industrialization, as well as top notch global innovation focusing on education and skills, information and technology infrastructure, research, and the innovation system.
Since the coming of the Engineer Abdullahi Sule administration, there has been a continuous and deliberate efforts to move Nasarawa State to align with nations and subnations prioriprioritizing knowledge-based model components centred mostly around knowledge workers, information, innovation capability, intangibles like patents, copyrights, proprietary software, and knowledge processing.
It’s little wonder that Engineer Sule was among the first state governors to fully domesticate the Nigerian Human Capital Development programme launched by former president Muhammdu Buhari in 2018, as a spur to galvanize sustainable growth of the country’s economy while also improving the life expectancy of the citizens.
Human Capital Development plays a vital role in sustaining the economic growth, boosting/ increasing productivity and reducing poverty. Human capital development highlights the need to invest in people through healthcare, education and labor force participation.
During the recently held North Central Human Capital Development Regional Conference in Lafia, Governor Sule, emphasized the determination of his administration to sustain human capital development geared towards increasing human capital investments as a vehicle for poverty reduction and increased life expectancy.
It was therefore not surprising when the administration, through the agency of the human development office, undertook the employability and entrepreneurship programme where over 200 citizens of the state were trained by Poise Academy, one of the country’s best graduate finishing school, as part of the commitment of the Governor to provide young entrepreneurs from Nasarawa State the enabling environment to explore their potentials in order for them to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the state.
Having entered into partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI), following which the administration launched an ambitious N500m youth revolving fund scheme, ten innovators and entrepreneurs were presented with various sums of money totalling twenty-two million naira in order for the beneficiaries to start their businesses.
Presenting cheques to the beneficiaries at an event at the Government House, Engineer Sule said the gesture was part of the administration’s commitment to youth empowerment and to reduce some of the challenges they face while trying to set up their own businesses.
The beneficiaries, as explained by the former Senior Special Assistant on Human Capital Development, Hajiya Habiba Suleiman, went through a rigorous selection process where the viability of their innovations were dully scrutinized. According to her, 59 applications were received by her agency, out of which 21 passed the business viability test, with only ten being able to scale through and to be the first beneficiaries of the youth revolving fund scheme.
Indeed, this is the hallmark of a knowledge-driven economy, a modern production practice where a skilled workforce is a prime requisite for research activities, innovations, technological evolution, and scientific advancements.
This is a policy thrust that prioritizes output creation most efficiently by utilizing scientific discoveries and innovations, with all these advancements and innovations contributing to production efficiency and creating new opportunities.
Beacause the Engineer Sule administration recognizes the pivotal role played by education and technological advancement in the transition of the agrarian economy to a knowledge economy, the state government has been consistent in allocating the lion share of the annual budget to education.
The late Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technical Institute, which was completed and equipped by the present administration, as well as the renovation and refurbishing of one technical school each in the three senatorial districts of the state, were geared towards changing the narrative and to trigger innovation.
Globally, it’s knowledge that drives the economy. It’s not who you know but what you know. Its the global trend in leadership that experts with recognizable skills and knowledge, are brought in to provide the needed leadership.
The trend now is to get the right man to do the job. The right way is to get the right person with the antecedence. Nasarawa State has the right person with His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule at the helm of affairs.
As the world turns to knowledge driven economy, Nasarawa must not be left behind. The people of the state most as a priority, rally round the Governor and to support him in his determ8bation to reposition the state on the path of sustainable growth.
Nasarawa State under His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule is now effectively and efficiently leveraging on her competitive advantages and blossoming into an economically viable entity that can self exist independent of the monthly federation allocation.
These same feat is being continously replicated across all the economic sectors of the state, bringing knowledge and innovation to bear and therefore bringing about tremendous economic impacts.
These laudable development initiatives must not be hindered or even impaired. Rather, not minding the diverse political interests of the citizens, the people of the state should commit to encouraging and supporting the Governor rather than embarking on actions capable of distracting the administration.
This is the time for Nasarawa State to shine and not a period for political or even religious vendetta.
