BY EMMA PETER, ABUJA
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Industrial Training and Development, Hon. Adamson Oluwatosin Ayinde, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to skills development, youth empowerment and industrial transformation through the National Industrial Manpower Summit (NIMS) 2026.
Ayinde said the summit was designed to bring together government officials, captains of industry, representatives of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), private organisations, academic institutions and young Nigerians to develop practical solutions to the country’s industrial skills challenges.
Speaking to journalists at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, on the sidelines of NIMS 2026, Ayinde explained that the initiative was part of his assignment following his appointment by President Tinubu to promote industrial training and development.
He expressed appreciation to the President for the opportunity to serve, noting that the initiative also provides a platform for Nigerian youths to demonstrate their talents, creativity and capacity to contribute meaningfully to national development.
According to him, the summit was conceived to strengthen collaboration among government, industry, academia and other stakeholders in order to transform Nigeria’s skills development landscape and create more opportunities for young people.
The 2026 edition of the summit, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Human Capital for Industrial Transformation: Building Skills, Driving Innovation and Creating Prosperity,” focuses on the importance of developing the country’s human capital to support industrial growth, innovation and economic prosperity.
Ayinde identified the development of skills curricula, the strengthening of skills acquisition centres and the creation of sustainable pathways for industrial development as some of the major objectives of this year’s summit.
He explained that the initiative was also intended to support the realisation of the industrial development objectives of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by equipping Nigerians with relevant skills needed to compete in an evolving economy.
On participation, Ayinde disclosed that the summit attracted more than 3,500 participants, exceeding the initial expectation of about 2,000 attendees.
He said the large turnout demonstrated the growing interest of stakeholders in skills development and the need to expand opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire practical and industry-relevant competencies.
According to him, the success of the inaugural NIMS 2025 edition provided the foundation for the 2026 summit, which has continued to attract national and international attention.
Ayinde also pointed to the participation of high-level representatives, including a representative of the President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, alongside several ambassadors and other dignitaries, as evidence of the summit’s growing profile.
He noted that President Tinubu’s decision to send a representative to the event, despite other official engagements, underscored the importance the administration attaches to skills development and industrial training.
The presidential aide stressed that Nigeria’s industrial transformation would require sustained investment in human capital, effective partnerships between educational institutions and industry, and the development of skills that respond directly to labour-market demands.
He added that the summit would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas, identify gaps in the existing skills development system and explore practical approaches to building a competent workforce capable of driving productivity and economic growth.
Ayinde expressed optimism that the outcomes of NIMS 2026 would contribute to the development of a stronger skills acquisition framework, empower young Nigerians and support the Federal Government’s broader efforts to promote industrialisation and sustainable prosperity.
The National Industrial Manpower Summit is organised by Hon. Adamson Oluwatosin Ayinde, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development, as a platform for advancing dialogue and collaboration on Nigeria’s industrial manpower needs.
