Thought for a human capital driven Ebonyi

It is no news that information has become the new oil, yet no news that the future of oil-dependent economies like we have in Nigeria is bleak considering the radical focus by western economies on biogas production and the advent of electric vehicles that have proven more efficient and eco-friendly. These, very significantly have started impacting the world economy with far-reaching consequences on the third world states. Consequences that will linger over the coming decades with the countries in the western Sahara and other weak economies at the receiving end. 

It is also no news that in recent years the economy of Nigeria has taken a downward slope showing no sign of recovery with government initiating policies that pose more political concerns other than are development focused, on this path we may never recover.

 Salt of the Nation

This note does not worry about the national economy rather the economy of our dear state Ebonyi and the future of her citizens which have proven to become her greatest asset among other resources for which we lack the capacity to sustain-ably tap largely due to a knowledge gap and financial constraints. The focus on Ebonyi aside being my state is rooted in the observation that a developed Nigeria must start at the state level and that honestly, there is not much the federal government can do considering the nature of our national polity.

I must be quick to mention that a tax-based economy is not sustainable and our dear state cannot develop beyond its current level should we remain dependent on federal allocation and tax generation.

With gratitude to the governor for his graciousness and numerous development intended projects also an acknowledgment that the reward for good work is more work

We propose that the government of Ebonyi state under the very inclusive leadership of Engr. David Umahi beyond policy initiation consciously considers staring Ebonyi state in the direction of information, technology and a knowledge-based source for internal revenue.

Science, technology, and information advances at a speed that can only be described as exponential while creating a huge knowledge gap. As the knowledge gap increases there is a further decline in the existing knowledge largely due to widespread poverty fostering the inability of intelligent, resourceful and hardworking Ebonyians to pursue and attain globally recognized standards in the 21st-century economy and labor force.

We call on the government of our dear state, the policymakers and influencers to at this point think in the direction of building and turning the state into a globally recognized tech industry, to develop Ebonyi into the new destination for a 21st-century workforce, a road-map that will turn the state into a human resource-dependent economy.

Not neglecting the numerous natural resources in the state or undermining the successes of administrations before, a human resource-driven economy ensures a ready indigenous workforce needed to undertake every other aspect of state and non-state business, it will turn Ebonyi into an ever viable community reducing crime, anguish, suffering and fostering hope, job creation and economic viability.

The economy that we propose if championed without mediocrity will ensure unimaginable economic success for the state. It will position our state to positively evolve with the imminent 4th industrial revolution which like the ones prior took all third world economy by surprise except for the Asian tigers that have approached their past failures with dexterity and have successfully become among the world leading and emerging economies.

We reckon that Ebonyi can move beyond the ridicule of the Nigerian state and develop itself into Africas next destination for viable, informed, tech-ready and innovative human capital markets. We envision an Ebonyi independent of the national economy becoming the choice destination for world tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Oracle, etc. in sourcing for the workforce and collaborative opportunities. An Ebonyi beyond salt of the nation becoming the human resource capital of Nigeria.

As part of this proposition, we recommend the establishment of a global workforce academy tailored to close the knowledge gap and mitigate to its barest minimum factors that hinder access to globally required industrial skills and competencies in various works of life. This done in partnership with the private sector with minimal state control and independent of the existing institutions will set our state on a world stage.

The institution shall be designed to provide industry-tailored training and real-time work process simulations in various aspects ranging from STEM, human resources, etc.

These thoughts emanate from a place of understanding that true and sustainable development can only be attained by training the mind and intellect of the Ebonyi child providing (s)he the visibility to soar.

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This work is not designed to be academic rather a personal proposition to the government of Ebonyi state. The idea here is original to me, open to critic and aimed at the public good.