Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has disclosed that his government places premium values on functional education, improved health and skills acquisition in his Human Capital Development plans, as a strategic way to unlock the potentials of productive population.
Oyebanji said education remains a leveler between the rich and the poor, while skills acquisition remains the best way to stay relevant under the current economy, with health and wellbeing playing pivotal roles in actualizing the vision of citizens, saying people with deteriorated medical conditions can contribute to economic growth.
Oyebanji gave the clarifications in Ado Ekiti, at the official launch of the Human Capital Development(HCD) Strategic Plan Document, by the Ekiti State Government, in collaboration with the National Office of the Human Capital Development, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The governor, represented by his Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, revealed that the HCD document has been endorsed by State Executive Council, thereby making it an effective framework to ramp up quality education and provide foundation to build a good future for the citizens.
The governor charged the development partners, corporate organisations, public servants, individuals, Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders to key into the HCD vision, that was primary conceived to fight unemployment, poverty and extreme exclusivity in the system.
“Human Capital Development is the third pillar of this administration with the Hallmark to provide functional education and equip our children with the foundation required to build successful lives.
“What we have in this document might look ambitious, but they are achievable. They reflect our shared aspirations for Ekiti citizens where every individual has access to quality education, healthcare, skills and opportunities for personal and professional growth”.
In his submission at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Human Capital Development, Hon. Gbenga Agbeyo, said the programme marked a significant milestone in Governor Oyebanji’s strategic action to develop the human resources available to the state.
Agbeyo added that the document was specifically conceptualised to focus primarily on thematic areas like education, health and wellbeing, labour force participations and inclusivity.
The Special Adviser stated that the conceptualisation was targeted at fostering a culture of excellence, where human resources can be made productive and self reliant, based on the available statistics that Ekiti State has 68% dependency ratio.
“This document was put together to enhance the skills of our youthful and productive population and to make sure that Ekiti residents are made to be well educated, well skilled, gainfully employed and healthy to operate in any part of the economy”.
Reviewing the strategic document, the former Statistician -General, Ekiti State Civil Service, Mr. Jide Oguntimehin, warned that the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government should work cohesively to implement the document without distrust and mutual suspicion.
Flowing from the foregoing, Oguntimehin added that the document was fashioned in strict alignment with the six-point agenda of Governor Oyebanji’s administration, with cardinal intention to provide sustainable jobs, facilities, education, and improve the wellbeing of the people.
He charged the government to up its games in the areas of adequate financing, monitoring and governance, describing these as the major impetuses that will lubricate frictions that can derail the implementation process.
Lending credence to the fact that political will won’t be lacking, the Chairman, Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Ekiti State, Prof Christopher Oluwadare , was upbeat that Governor Oyebanji has the requisite gravitas to implement the plan for the benefit of the state