By DANIEL ETEGHE

The Managing Director of Peer Grid Solutions Limited, Mr. Osuagwu Ezeukwu has called on the Federal Government to dedicate more of its efforts in developing human capital resources in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the opening of a 2-day National Economic Council Retreat at the Statehouse Conference Centre on 21st March 2016.

Speaking on Friday, at the NESA Economic Discourse with the theme: “Unleashing the true potentials of Nigerian economy” organised by the Nigerian Economics Students’ Association, University of Lagos Chapter, Mr. Ezeukwu stressed that if Nigeria will be amongst the top economic countries in the world, it must invest greatly on human capital development as, “it is the only way to the country’s economic growth.”

He affirmed that it is wrong for a country like Nigeria to concentrate so much on acquiring machinery, equipment without adequate manpower to man them.

He pointed out that inadequate skilled manpower has kept increasing the expatriate quota as more foreigners keep coming to Nigeria at the detriment of Nigerians and her economy.

“Nigeria must lay emphasis on human capital development because this is the only way that our economy can grow rapidly. We have a lot of resources, equipment, machinery; they cannot operate except people are trained to operate them. Human capital development is the key to unleashing our economic potentials in this country,” he said.

Ezeukwu pointed out that ONPOS, which is a subsidiary of Peer Grid Solutions Ltd, partnered with the students because they (students) are the drivers of Africa’s economy adding that the forum was meant to champion positive and progressive dialogues on the nation’s economy.

“ONPOS is partnering with the students’ association by facilitating the NESA UNILAG Discourse which is a platform that brings captains of industries, business icons and the student audience together to contribute and dialogue on critical national economic issues.

“We reckoned this was a veritable opportunity to not only engage these young public but also to facilitate a platform that enables them demonstrate their preparedness to take their place in the real world as nation builders and change agents, after graduation,” he stressed.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Head of Economic Department, University of Lagos, Professor Ndubuisi Nwokoma said that for Nigerian economy to grow rapidly, the system must be allowed to run itself.

Professor Nwokoma who blamed the present fuel scarcity and predicaments that Nigerians are going through on the failure of the government to allow the market and economy system to run itself.

He said “As Nigerians, we must know the state of our economy. It is only when we know and discuss issues together that is when we tend to know the problems and the way forward. We must learn to imbibe an open progress to our economy than a close progress, it is good to discuss what affects us nationally than pretend as if we don’t know our problem. In any country where the market is not allowed to work you tend to cause crisis to the economy.”