Osinbajo to highlight Nigeria’s investment in human capital at Oxford
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is delivering a special lecture on Nigeria’s investments in human capital development at the Oxford University, United Kingdom on Friday.
A statement by the Office of the Vice President said Professor Osinbajo was invited by the Oxford University to deliver the lecture “highlighting ongoing investments, efforts and plans of the Nigerian government on human development at the globally recognised institution.”
The statement further reads:“At the event, Professor Osinbajo will also be inaugurating the International Advisory Board (IAB) of Oxford University’s African Studies Centre, under the School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA).
“Members of the board are eminent leaders from across the world including several African countries like Nigeria and South Africa.”
The members of the board to be inaugurated include; An international advisor of Goldman Sachs, Mr Tito Mboweni and former Chairman of the South African Reserve Bank, who will chair the board; First Lady of Namibia, Madame Monica Geingos; Lawyer and entrepreneur, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former UN Under-Secretary for Political Affairs, one-time Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and former Nigeria’s External Affairs Minister and Dr Charlotte Scott, former First Lady of Zambia and development specialist.
“Others are the Chairman of Pick’n’Pay, South Africa, Mr Gareth Ackerman; Mr. Alex Duncan, Director and Consultant Economist, The Policy Practice, Brighton, United Kingdom; Economist and author, Accra, Ghana, Mr Ivor Agyeman-Duah; Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, Nigeria and Ms. Linda Mabhena-Olagunju, founder and Managing Director, DLO Energy Group (Pty) Ltd, South Africa.
The statement said the vice President would depart Nigeria on Thursday for London and would be received by Oxford’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Warden, St. Antony’s College, Professor Roger Goodman; Head, Oxford School of Global & Area Studies, Tim Powers and the Director of the African Studies Center, Professor Wale Adebanwi.
Highlighting progress
“During the lecture, Professor Osinbajo would highlight the progress made by the Buhari administration in improving Nigeria’s Human Capital development indices and investment climate, as well as the widespread impact of the National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP).
“The N-Power Volunteer Corps, which is a part of the N-SIP, and has so far provided employment for 500,000 young Nigerian graduates, demonstrates the commitment of the Federal Government to invest in the human capital development of Nigerian citizens, particularly the young people…Also, the N-SIP includes schemes such as the Conditional Cash Transfer, which has helped lift thousands of the poorest Nigerians out of poverty, through the provision of N5,000 monthly stipends; the TraderMoni, which provides collateral & interest-free loans from N10,000 to petty traders nationwide, among other initiatives of the Buhari administration,” the statement reads.
School feeding
Besides, there is also the Homegrown School Feeding programme which provides one free meal a day to over 9 million primary school pupils, thereby boosting school enrichment and also addressing stunting concerns among young Nigerians of school age.
Last week Wednesday, Professor Osinbajo presided over a meeting of the National Economic Council’s Human Capital Development Core Working Group at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where reiterated Buhari administration’s commitment to accelerate human capital development.
Professor Osinbajo said;”lifting our people out of poverty is a crucial agenda towards attaining intended developmental outcomes.”
He is expected back in Abuja on Sunday.
