President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday announced plans for Nigeria's first-ever National Industrial Manpower Development Policy, saying the country's greatest asset lies in its people rather than its natural resources.

He pointed to the urgent need to bridge the gap between educational output and industry requirements to unlock Nigeria's economic potential.

Speaking during a keynote address at the opening of the National Industrial Manpower Summit (NIMS) 2025 at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the President, who was represented by his deputy, Vice President KashimShettima, said the country must urgently invest in its citizens or risk dire consequences.

The summit with the theme, "Manpower Development: The Bridge Between Potential and Productivity," brings together government officials, industry leaders, academia, and international partners to develop actionable recommendations for workforce development.

He told participants that "an improvement in human capital, along with infrastructure and sound policy, is the bridge between development and setback in every nation," adding that Nigeria cannot afford to divest from the people because the world will not pause to wait for the country.

The President said the summit "is not just a forum for discussion; it is a call to produce actionable recommendations that will form the basis of Nigeria's first-ever National Industrial Manpower Development Policy. I assure you that this administration will review, adopt, and implement viable proposals with urgency."

Earlier, the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John OwanEnoh, said the summit was a testament to how President Tinubu's leadership is always touching the right spots, adding that it was very intentional of him to appoint the first Senior Special Assistant on Industrial Training and Development.

The Minister noted that the summit is not just a ceremony or another line in the calendar of events, but a crossroads where Nigeria elects whether to remain as a nation of vast potential - often admired but unrealised, or whether the country is ready to step forward as a nation whose productivity matches its promise.

Also, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said national manpower is a key ingredient for attracting and retaining domestic investment for industrialisation to accelerate Nigeria's economic development.

Other stakeholders who spoke at the event commended President Tinubu for his foresight in appointing square pegs to fill square holes in relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), with mandates on skills as new perspectives in dealing with the nation's industrial manpower problems as they emerge.