The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating national reforms by deepening its long-standing collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), specifically targeting industrialization, gender inclusion, and economic diversification.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, issued this commendation on Thursday at the Presidential Villa while receiving the UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie Attafuah.
A Nigeria First Approach to Industrialization
During the dialogue, Gbajabiamila highlighted the Made-in-Nigeria policy as a cornerstone of President Tinubu’s reform agenda. He described the initiative as a wider concept of local content designed to trigger a massive shift toward domestic manufacturing and economic sovereignty.
“The President is passionate about it. Some call it Nigeria First… How can we practicalize this and make it work, with all of its value chain and all that comes with it: employment and growth in the economy?” Gbajabiamila stated.
Strengthening Gender Participation and Social Sectors
Beyond industrial growth, the Chief of Staff urged the UNDP to leverage its global expertise to help Nigeria increase female participation in politics and governance. He noted that the agency’s experience in other African nations could provide a roadmap for Nigeria to achieve gender parity while remaining respectful of local cultures and religions.
The Federal Government also identified four key sectors for urgent UNDP intervention which are poverty reduction, education and mining, agricultural development, and energy sector reforms
Shift to Government-Led Development
Responding to the government’s goals, Ms. Elsie Attafuah praised President Tinubu’s transformative leadership, describing it as inspirational for the continent. She revealed that the UNDP is shifting its strategy from a project-based model to a Government-Financing, long-term thematic approach.
This shift acknowledges the exit of many international donors, placing the onus on national governments to drive their own development through prudent resource utilization.
Empowering the Youth: The University Graduate Hub
As part of its commitment to innovation, Attafuah announced the unveiling of the University Graduate Hub. This digital initiative allows Nigerian graduates to:
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Upload prototypes of their creative products.
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Connect with financiers and venture capitalists.
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Drive trade and economic competitiveness through local innovation.
“We are here to seek how we can continue to position Nigeria as the leader and giant of Africa,” Attafuah concluded, “ensuring that we support Nigeria’s development initiatives and aspirations.”
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