[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1514″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css_animation=”flipInX”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A good way of measuring the economy of a nation is to look at its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) indicators. The GDP of any economy is the monetary value of all final goods and services produced by all people within the countrywithin a given period.The rise of the GDP rates are desirable because it comes with more investment due to the opportunities created, more personal income, job growth and general well being of the citizenry…all things being equal.

Statistics from Tradingeconomics.com, Central Bank of Nigeria reports a 3.23% actual, -12.9% previous as at 2017-09-05; actual of 8.97% as at 2017-11-20; 4.29% as at 2018-02-27. Statistics from the same source (Tradingeconomics.com, U.S Bureau of Economic Statistics) reports a steady growth of 1.35%, 2%, and 2.875% from 2015 to 2017 respectively. While I do not intend to get into the economics of GDP, I choose to evaluate the one of the key drivers of GDP outcome- the QUALITY and POTENTIAL of the WORKFORCE. It will be stating the obvious that, a nation composed of skilled manpower have a higher rate of productivity and innovation than one in lack of such vibrant skillful and value creating workforce.People make a nation; the value of a nation is a direct reflection of the quality of its people.

The Human Capital Index of 2016 identified the top 10 economies leveraging their human capital potential and establishing a prepared workforce for competitive economics as Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden, New Zealand, Denmark, Netherlands, Canada and Belgium in ascending order.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Leveraging the human capital of a country entails amongst other things- the considerate investment in the educational and scholastic preparation of the future workforce, use of value-creating and current training curriculum for teachers and students that meets the demand ahead, opens up opportunities for students (the future workforce) to explore and apply themselves in novel areas, provides internship programs for educational and labour market systems learning integration and development of right skills for easy transition to the labour market.

Our reality in Nigeria is an increasing population growth rate (about 3.5%), brain drain, declining jobs, high unemployment rates greatly attributable to inadequate skills and misalignment of skills with that demanded by the employer,demographic shift, a changing world of work due to globalization and technological advancement, decline in our educational values, obsolete school curriculum, poor pedagogy style of teaching and general inefficiency of some regulatory bodies entails an interesting world of work ahead of us.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]In the light of these realities, what measurable solutions do we have to deploy if we seek to improve the economic opportunities and competitiveness of our youth and the resultant GDP outcome of our economy? What interventions can we begin to implement today?

It is suggested that as an immediate intervention measure,

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Knowledge is key for growth and development. Creativity thrives best when the brain is engaged at it most optimal and stimulating level. The products from our educational and training systems will be better of and richer in quality if we are more intentional on what, how and why we teach. A vibrant and relevant system will encourage students to apply themselves in varied and distinct domains that leads to positive ripple effects- low employment rates, reduction in crime, self-fulfillment, increasing GDP etc.

It is in doing what we know how to do best that we are able to leave our comfort zones, do simple but profound work that adds value to our communities and our world.

…HELENA FREY

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