Tips to improve lives, by World Bank chief

Investing in human capital development by heads of government remains the only way to improve the lives of upcoming generations, World Bank President Jim Kim says. In his remarks at the Global Citizens Movement Makers Summit (GCMMS) in New York, United States (U.S.), the World Bank chief urges world leaders to refocus their agenda

WORLD Bank President Jim Kim has called on world leaders, especially those from Africa and Asia to invest in human capital development as a means of improving the lives of younger generations.

This, he said, would enable young people to improve their survival skills.

Kim made the submission in New York, United States (U.S.) on Tuesday at the Global Citizens Movement Makers Summit (GCMMS).

In an interview panel anchored by the business correspondent of MSNBC news, Ali Velshi, the UN scribe said that for Africa and Asia to attain the sustainable development goals, they must refocus their agenda by investing more in human capital development.

He said the world is moving from what the donors need to donate but to what governments are investing in people in terms of education, health and empowerment which would allow them to be able to compete in the world.

He said no matter how generous donors are, Africa and some Asian countries might never attain the sustainable development goals if the people from these continents do not have equal opportunities to compete with the larger world.

He said in order for them to be able to compete, they must have good quality education which would translate to capacity building and economic development for the nations.

Kim said: “Almost everyone in these countries now has a mobile phone and they can see almost everything going on. So, there are the aspirations of wanting to achieve these things they see.

“It is when they can’t that they become agitated, restless and aggressive,” he said.

Kim said the World Bank would be releasing a human capital index report on all the countries by October.

He said most countries would be shocked from the report as it shows governments how each fared in human capital development.

Kim said that for a country like Nigeria, where 30 per cent of its under-five population is stunted and many malnourished, there is likely to be a problem in the future.

He said to forestall these, the governments need to restrategise and look inward to develop young generations in the lower and middle income countries for them to have equal opportunities to compete anywhere around the world.

Kim said: “Poor countries still face tremendous challenges, as almost a quarter of the children under the age of five are malnourished, and 60 per cent of primary school children are failing to achieve even a rudimentary education.

“In fact, more than 260 million children and youth in poor countries are receiving no education at all. The moral case is that investing in health and education of all people will translate to economic one as well.

“This will make them ready to compete and thrive in a rapid changing environment. Human capital which is the potential of individuals is going to be the most important long term investment any country can make for its people’s future prosperity and quality of life.”

This is not the first time Africa, especially Nigeria would be advised to invest in human capital development as a means out of poverty which is believed to be eating deep into the country.

According to the Goalkeepers data report released by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, by 2050, more than 40 per cent of the extremely poor people in the world will live in just two countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria.

In order to forestall this, billionaire philanthropist and Co-founder, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, earlier in the year called on Nigerian leaders to focus more on interventions in the education, health and agricultural sector.

He said most African countries especially Nigeria and DRC need to channel more investment towards health, family planning, agriculture and education as a means of human development as this is the only way in which poverty can be alleviated in the continent.