Every generation has its dream of the Nigeria it desires. In 1960, there was a desire to become independent. In the 1970s, there was a longing to harness oil wealth. In the 1990s, there was a drive to establish democracy. Today, the dream is of a Nigeria that can compete globally, an economy that is driven not just by resources, but by the ingenuity of its people. Twenty years from today, the dream will not be decided in oil fields or government offices. It will be decided in classrooms, innovation hubs, training centres, and the untapped potential of millions of young Nigerians.
Human capital is like a seed. What we sow in education, skills, and innovation today determines our harvest of economic prosperity tomorrow. Sadly, our current investments are not strong enough to ascertain our harvest. Education budgets remain low, vocational training is still undervalued, and our research institutions often fight for survival rather than breakthroughs.
If these gaps persist, I am afraid, the Nigeria of 2045 risks facing a talent drought in a world already racing toward artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. But the reverse is also true. With deliberate investment in human capital, Nigeria could leapfrog and secure its place as a talent powerhouse, not just in Africa, but globally. Again, we have the population.
The story of India’s rise as an IT hub is really not accidental. It was the result of decades of investment in technical education, research, and global partnerships. Rwanda’s progress in digital governance and Kenya’s significant rise in fintech also reveal what is possible when a nation places people, not politics, at the centre of development. Nigeria, with its population and creativity, has the raw material for greatness. But raw potential without deliberate cultivation is wasted potential.
As we consider investing in human capital, our master plan must recognise the unique strengths of each of our regions. That is how we can position our great talents to drive our economic future.
With Lagos as Africa’s tech epicentre, the Southwest region can become the continent’s Silicon Valley by 2045. But this requires massive investment into STEM education, coding programmes, and research labs across Ibadan, Akure, Osogbo, and beyond. Yes, we are currently doing some of these training here and there, but it is not enough. It is time we take it up as a strategic project and have a good budget allocated to it. The more youths we empower, the more we will reap economic growth and progress.
The South East, known for enterprise, could drive manufacturing and export growth through technical schools, modern apprenticeships, and industrial hubs. Places like Aba and Nnewi could turn the South East into Nigeria’s factory floor.
Beyond oil, the South-South region should pivot to maritime logistics and blue economy skills. Rivers and Akwa Ibom could lead in producing energy engineers and marine scientists. State governors in this region must move beyond rhetoric and come together to institutionalise learning hubs that blend academia with industry, equipping young people not just with theory but with globally competitive, hands-on skills. By building a talent pipeline rooted in maritime innovation, our South-South region could redefine itself from being Nigeria’s oil belt to becoming Africa’s maritime powerhouse.
North Central, with fertile land and a strategic location, could dominate agribusiness and food technology. Training centres in Benue and Plateau could prepare youths to feed West Africa.
Despite security challenges, the Northeast & Northwest regions hold immense promise. Kano can reclaim its textile legacy with modern industrial training, while Borno can lead in renewable energy with investments in solar expertise. Literacy, digital inclusion, and vocational training here will decide whether Nigeria’s development is truly inclusive.
If Nigeria fails to act, the cost will be devastating. By 2045, millions of unskilled youths could swell unemployment rolls, deepen insecurity, and choke our GDP growth. But if we act, the reward will be extraordinary: the largest pool of skilled labour in Africa, capable of driving exports, attracting foreign investment, and shaping industries from fashion to fintech and from agriculture to advanced energy.
The Nigeria of 2045 will be either a cautionary tale of wasted potential or a success story of deliberate investment in people. Our future is not mysterious; it is the direct outcome of the seeds we plant today. Will we prioritise human capital with the same urgency we give to oil, infrastructure, and trade?
Twenty years may sound distant, but the children who are born this year will graduate into Nigeria. The real test of our commitment is not whether we can sign trade deals or commission projects, but whether we can prepare our people to thrive in a world we cannot yet fully see.
Human capital is the oil of the 21st century. The sooner Nigeria understands this, the sooner we can secure the future we dream of.
About the writer:
Deborah Yemi-Oladayo is the Managing Director of Proten International, a leading HR Consulting firm in Nigeria, specialising in Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, and HR Advisory Services. Email: d.yoladayo@protenintl.com
