HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT A CATALYST TO PRODUCTIVITY – ONDO HOS

By John Kayode

Lack of adequate human capital development policies has been described as the bane of growth in any corporate organisation.

The Ondo State Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele, FCIPM, noted this in his paper, titled ‘Exploring the Relationship between Capacity Building and Productivity’, delivered at the 2023 Humboldt International Conference held at the Awolowo Auditorium of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA on Tuesday.

According to Ogundele, the level of knowledge, skills and ability of the workforce of any organisation would determine its productivity, adding that the emerging challenges of the contemporary time called for well informed workers if the set goals would be achieved.

His words, ‘in today’s fast-paced and complex world, organizations, whether for profit or non-profit, depend on the skillful engagement, utilization and development of the human resource component to achieve their set objectives. These activities in turn enhance the productivity of its manpower and its ability not only to cope with emerging issues but have competitive advantage over others in the same industry.’

‘The productivity of an organization depends largely on the richness of the knowledge, skills and abilities possessed by workers at all levels. Hence, the main objective of capacity building is to continue to increase the knowledge management of employees with the resulting measurable impact on corporate productivity,’ he added.

Earlier in her welcome remarks, the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology of the university, Prof. Toyin Osundahunsi said the theme for the Conference this year, ‘Research and Capacity Building for Agricultural Industrialize Economy of Sub-Saharan Africa was apt and timely as Nigerians yearned for a diversified economy following the dwindling fortune in oil resources.

She however noted with dismay that Nigeria currently cultivated only thirty three per cent of its eighty four million hectares of arable land, leaving the country as a mono-economic nation.

Also speaking at the event, the state commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Olayato Aribo, lauded the organisers of the conference, saying it would complement government’s efforts at addressing food security in the state.

Sina Adeyeye,
Office of the HoS