By Deborah Yemi-Oladayo
In the global race for influence, innovation, and economic relevance, nations are increasingly realising that their most strategic resource is not buried underground but nurtured within classrooms, workspaces, and communities; it is people. For Nigeria, a country brimming with youth and energy, human capital stands as our most underrated yet potentially powerful access point to global platforms.
With over 200 million citizens, half of whom are under 19, Nigeria holds one of the largest reservoirs of untapped talent in the world. From tech developers in Lagos to business masterminds in Ariara market, Aba; spare-part dealers in Ladipo market; and agritech in Oyo. Nigerians are already proving their capacity to compete and contribute to the global economy. Yet, this potential remains largely underleveraged due to systemic neglect in education, skill development, and national policy focus.
For decades, Nigeria’s economic narrative has been dictated by natural resources, particularly oil. While that is great, it has subjugated our mindsets to a dependence on oil, dragging the nation into a mono-economy. As the world shifts toward knowledge economies and green transitions, we must ask ourselves: what happens to a nation that fails to transition from resource dependence to people development?
Gainfully, countries like India and the Philippines have strategically invested in education, IT infrastructure, and skills exports, creating a niche to become global service providers. This does not only improve their foreign direct investment (FDI); it helps them stamp their relevance on foreign economies. Similarly, Nigeria has the opportunity to position its human capital as a national export, not just through migration, but by embedding our talent in global value chains, from tech outsourcing to professional consulting, fintech to health services, and entertainment to sports.
The evidence is already here: Nigerian professionals are leading innovations in Silicon Valley – Nnamdi Abraham-Igwe – directing global policy in international organisations – Okonjo Iwuala, and building unicorn startups across continents – Olugbenga Agboola and Tosin Eniolorunda. Our universities continue to produce graduates who, when given the opportunity, excel abroad – Wole Soyinka. Diaspora remittances accrue to billions of dollars annually. These are not just financial inflows; they are proof of Nigerian capability at a global scale.
Let’s shift the narrative a bit. Nigeria is one of the largest global producers of crude oil, right? Does this golden natural resource honestly place us on global platforms? – We are largely mentioned, celebrated and honoured through the achievements of our talents – Okonjo Iweala, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Wole Soyinka, Aliko Dangote, Chinua Achebe, Akinwumi Adesina, Ademola Lookman, Tony Elumelu, Victor Osimhen, Asisat Oshoala, and many others. Through these great men and women, Nigeria is announced, our flag is raised, and our national anthem is sung. Now, it is said that a nation is as great as its human capital. If we are producing these influential men and women where our talent potential has not been adequately harnessed and nurtured, what do you think Nigeria will become when intentional and strategic efforts are made to harness her raw talent potential?.
If we are willing and ready to unlock access to global platforms, what must change?
A curriculum that harnesses our intrinsic potentials must be designed, adopted and executed. This means supporting our children to explore careers within their areas of their natural strength and capabilities. A young boy in Onitsha, improving his natural entrepreneurial skills in the classroom. Children in Gboko, harnessing their intrinsic intelligence in farming – learning how to improve the farming routines with technology – and children in Iseyin expanding their knowledge in making Aso Oke. Just like the Germans with machines, Indians with pharmaceuticals and the Chinese with electronics. Each Nigerian child must be allowed to unleash their natural prowess, and our learning schemes and curriculum should accommodate that too.
There must be a shift from rote learning to skills-based, digital, and problem-solving curricula that align with global business demands. The era of rote learning should be phased out – it does not foster deeper understanding and the ability to apply knowledge in different contexts, especially in a world that is changing rapidly. Our learning style, which involves repeatedly rehearsing information, whether by saying it aloud or writing it down, until it can be recalled without necessarily understanding it, has posed a huge challenge with our graduates. Most of the routines learnt at the university cannot efficiently be applied in today’s business world.
Can anything more be said about public-private collaboration? Industry experts must define talent needs and co-create training pathways with government and institutions, not otherwise. The business world has greatly evolved; there are new skills required to solve new business problems. This collaboration should not be done on paper; we need to see new policies on our learning curriculum emerge.
What distinguishes countries that convert their population into economic powerhouses is not just their numbers; it is the policies they adopt to educate, equip, and engage their people for global relevance.
Can we talk about education policy reform as a leverage point?
To reposition human capital as Nigeria’s primary strategy for accessing global platforms, policy must become a deliberate enabler, not a passive observer. It must move from being reactive to being proactive. Human capital development should no longer be a sectoral ambition of the education ministry alone. It must become a national economic strategy, with policy at the centre.
We need policies that modernise our curriculum, integrate technology, and place heavy emphasis on problem-solving skills and critical thinking for our students at all levels. Let us consider more national upskilling policies that promote lifelong learning, competency-based training, and certifications that are globally recognised – promoting our natural prowess in craft, arts, entertainment, sports, business, farming and more.
So long, policy fragmentation is one of Nigeria’s greatest threats to progress. Efforts to improve human capital often exist in silos. Education here, job creation there, digital inclusion somewhere else. What we need is policy coherence, driven by a central strategy that recognises human capital as the engine of national prosperity. Education policy with labour market demands, technology policy with workforce development, and fiscal policy with investment in training and innovation hubs. Truly, we can achieve this if we can make it a national priority.
You know what? Without intentional policy direction, our demographic advantage can easily spiral into social instability, unemployment, and brain drain.
If we are truly serious about economic transformation, global competitiveness, and national pride, then we must prioritise human capital as the engine of our progress. Nigeria’s youth are not a burden; they are our breakthrough. What we lack is not potential, but intentionality. Let us reposition human capital, not as a social weight to manage, but as an economic strategy to unleash. Let us craft policies that do not just prepare our people for the future but position them to compete, contribute, and lead on global platforms.
Human capital is our oil, our gold, and our greatest chance at global relevance. It’s time we recognise it, invest in it, and let it lead.
About the writer:
Deborah Yemi-Oladayo is the Managing Director of Proten International, a leading HR consulting firm in Nigeria, specialising in talent acquisition, manpower outsourcing, learning and development, and HR advisory services. Email: [email protected]