Nigeria is aiming to break into the top 80 countries on the Global Human Capital Index (HCI) by 2030, a bold move announced by Vice-President Kashim Shettima during the launch of the National Human Capital Development (HCD) Accelerator Project in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Speaking on Monday at the event, Shettima emphasized the Federal Government’s full commitment to building a more skilled, educated, and productive population.

“Every policy or programme that intervenes in the lives of our people can only succeed if it is rooted in the grassroots,” he stated.

“The true wealth of any nation lies in the certainty of its human capital, the education of its children, the health of its citizens, and the productivity of its workforce.”

During his visit, Shettima also inspected several ongoing ARISE HCD projects in the state, including model primary schools and the ARISE Park, an environmental reclamation initiative that blends sustainability with human development goals.

He commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for being the first to fully implement the national HCD blueprint across all Local Government Areas, calling it “not just progress, but leadership.”

Shettima revealed that the Federal Government has launched the next phase, HCD 2.0, which builds upon the foundation of the first phase but with stronger integration and a laser focus on measurable outcomes.

“At its core, HCD 2.0 is about integration and impact,” he said.

“We are working to institutionalize the HCD Fund to ensure that no matter who occupies these offices tomorrow, the investments we make in people today will endure.”

He noted that Nigeria is targeting a Human Capital Index score of 0.6 as part of its plan to climb from its current rank of 168 out of 174 countries.

“If we must meet our target… we must act with boldness. Implementation must be swift. Data must guide us. Financing must be innovative.”

In line with that vision, Shettima announced the rollout of an HCD Dashboard that will track real-time data on key indicators, moving beyond bureaucratic reports to focus on real-life impact.

“We are deploying data not for reports, but for results, because behind every number is a story: a child not vaccinated, a mother lost to childbirth, a youth with promise but no pathway. These are not mere statistics. They are realities, and we must confront them with urgency and compassion.”

He highlighted Akwa Ibom’s significant achievements, noting an under-five mortality rate of 80, far below the national average of 110, and just 3.5% of primary school-age children out of school, compared to the national average of 25.6%.

“You are not merely compliant with our national vision; you are ahead of the curve,” he told the state leadership.

Shettima also introduced “Project Fuuku,” a clean cookstove initiative that originated from a successful pilot in Nasarawa State.

The project aims to tackle public health, environmental, and gender equity challenges.

“This intervention is more than just a public health measure. It is a gender-sensitive, climate-conscious strategy that saves lives, preserves forests, and uplifts rural women burdened by indoor pollution and fuel scarcity,” he said.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom described human capital development as the bedrock of sustainable progress and announced plans to send an Executive Bill to the State House of Assembly to domesticate the HCD initiative across all local governments.

“We are thrilled that our state was selected as the first for the inauguration of this programme. This reinforces the fact that the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu does not play politics with development, and we deeply appreciate this.”

Ms. Rukaiya El-Rufai, the National Coordinator for Human Capital Development and Special Adviser to the President on the National Economic Council, highlighted the need for long-term strategy and continuity.

She stressed that improving education and healthcare systems is vital to helping Nigerians reach their full potential.

“We currently rank 168 out of 174 countries, but this is not our destiny,” she said.

With the launch of HCD 2.0 and the institutionalization of long-term strategies like the HCD Fund and data dashboard, Nigeria’s top leadership is betting big on people as the true engine of economic and social transformation.