.INAUGURATES INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON HUMAN CAPITAL DEVT
By Omotayo Olatunde
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, has inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Capital Development to expand citizens’ access to better standard of living.
Performing the inauguration at his office on Wednesday, Otunba Egbeyemi noted that investment in human capital development is critical to the future of Ekiti State for its people to realize their potentials as productive members of the society.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, the inauguration of the Committee puts Ekiti on the path of advancing human capital development and contributing to the improvement of Nigeria’s human development index.
Otunba Egbeyemi who is the Chairman of the Committee added that investment in human capital by the state government would help to ensure that every citizen and resident of the state has the opportunity to decent incomes, live a healthy life and contribute to the society.
Members of the Committee include Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani; Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Olabimpe Aderiye; Special Adviser on Human Capital Development and Allied Matters, Mr. Gbenga Agbeyo and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Empowerment, Mrs. Bolaji Olagbaju and other senior civil servants.
The Deputy Governor stressed that the Dr. Kayode Fayemi Administration strongly believes that an educated, healthy and productive population is essential to reducing poverty and achieving sustainable economic growth and prosperity and is committed to seeing that happen.
Otunba Egbeyemi who explained that human development is all about investing in people through nutrition, healthcare, quality education and skills tasked the committee members to deliver on the assignment given to them.
He said: “Investment in Human Capital is critical to the future of Ekiti State. It is the only way we can sustain positive outcomes and ensure that every citizen and resident of this State earn a decent income, live a healthy life and contribute to the society.
“With this Inter-Ministerial Committee in place, I strongly believe that the state is on the right path to advancing human capital development and contributing to the improvement of Nigeria’s human capital index.
“Building human capital is a fail-proof approach to building successful societies and is the most important long-term investment we can make for the future of Ekiti people.”
Speaking earlier, the Project Consultant, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, disclosed that Ekiti is one of the state’s in the Southwest enjoying the support of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on issues of human capital development.
Dr. Adeyanju urged the Committee to come up with strategies that would boost healthcare delivery, prevent child mortality, make education more accessible and investment that would boost employment in the state which are parts of the indices of human capital development.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Filani, described the human person as the single most important resource available to any state or country hence the need to take conscious steps to make the populace more productive.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Aderiye also identified investment in technology as capable of serving as a catalyst for sustainable development.
