May 21, 2021
BY IBRAHIM JABATI.
“The logic is simple – resources are nothing unless the human mind and energy are applied to them to produce value.” – Anver Versi a renowned journalist and editor of the New African Magazine.
As a Sierra Leonean, I cannot help, but to wholeheartedly agree with this quote. Why should I not in any case? For a very, very long time, we have been paying lip service when it comes to developing the most important resources (Human) in our country. But now that we have started coming to our senses, there is much talk about Human Capital Development (HCD) today under the New Direction government of President Julius Maada Bio.
According to State House Communication team, the president in sharing his plans on HCD with colleagues Heads of States and Government of the Economic Community of West African States:
“ Our country defines Human Capital Development in terms of equal and free access to equal education – that also involves skills training and innovations – we believe this makes the human being fit for purpose in the twenty – first century and all ready to fully partake in the global economy ; healthcare – by strengthening our healthcare system and services; and food security.”
Being father of the nation, he has now finally decided to first educate his children, because he has the foresight to know that they are the most important asset. Not Gold, not Diamonds, not Rutile and not even Oil!!
“The United States is the largest economy in the world not because it exported all of it resources, but because it uses everything it has to first build its own house. Its most valuable assets are human and US pours more resources into developing its people than any other country in the world. The logic is simple- resources are nothing unless the human mind and energy are applied to them to produce value. I once asked my economics professor to define wealth to me. He called me over and pointed out to a waste piece of ground, covered with mud. ‘That mud’ he said ‘has no value, it is not wealth. Now mix it with straw and turn it into bricks and it has value. Put the bricks together into a wall, it has more value, arrange the walls into a house and you seriously started to make wealth.’
Are we turning our valueless mud into valuable houses? Do we recognize the potential of what we have – or we continue to send our resources to others who will turn them into wealth?
Britain where I live, produces some grains, fruits, meat, and fish from its only real natural resources – land and sea. It got small oil, (not enough) from the sea and still uses coal to produce energy. In terms of resources, Britain is poor. But in terms of what its people do with those resources, it is so rich it can afford to help others who are having difficult time in life……
India has now learnt that the path to wealth lies in its own back yard and is pouring money into educating its people and serving their needs,” Versi pointed out.
Wow! This clearly resonates with what president Bio is doing, pouring huge money into education. This is where I commended him for his government drive towards the Human Capital Development through free quality education. He is on the right trajectory to make Sierra Leone great again. It is a path I strongly believe would catapult our country to a height never seen before if it is sustained. It is the way out of our quandary, because for over 80 years since natural resources were discovered in Sierra Leone especially diamonds, there is very little or nothing to show for it in the lives of ordinary Sierra Leoneans who still flounder in abject poverty! Today, we are rated among the poorest countries in the world. How could that be?! We started off well in those days when we were being referred to as the Athens of West Africa. Ironically, it was during the colonial era! And during that era too, all our natural resources were carted away to Britain that colonized us, (The same colonial policy of exporting raw materials rather than adding value to them is still being following). clearly, and historically, no country has ever created wealth and taken her people out of poverty by exporting raw materials. But that conversation is for another day as we march forward to make Sierra Leone great.
With independence in 1961, our once glorious academic excellence for which we were well known, in and outside Africa, took a nosedive in the 1970’s for the worst, so much so that presently, it is a shadow of its former self, in the sub-region and the continent at large. Interestingly, Nigerians, Ghanaians and Gambian students used to come here to study. Even as far as from Namibia. But the result of this academic debacle has been spectacular and devastating for the country’s growth hence the quagmire we are in while others are moving forward. This state of affairs has been troubling right -thinking people here and has become unacceptable thus the need for HCD. Before independence, we could blame colonization for this state of affairs – what is our excuse now? Indeed, to me, we have no excuse whatsoever!! The ball is now in our court and has been for a very long time, 60 years now. Our destiny is now in our own hands to make or break Mama Salone.
Taking into cognizant these facts, and watching president Bio in March as he moves around the country, Pujehun district to be specific, literally begging chiefs, community members, parents to support the free quality education to succeed, and pupils to take the opportunity seriously, I knew he has serious plans for this country. However, he quickly cautioned community members, chiefs, parents and pupils that the benefits of the Human Capital Development are not immediate, but that it would yield a brighter, better future for country and people as a whole in the long run.
Again, without mincing his words, on 98.1 good morning program, he reiterated the importance of HCD and emphatically stated that it is the only way out for Sierra Leone!! Similarly, few days ago, on the Occasion of the State Opening of the Fourth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone in the Chamber of Parliament Tower Hill, Freetown on Tuesday 18th May, 2021, President Bio again reechoed what he has been saying all along about HCD. He told members of parliament gathered there that: “Without inclusive and sustainable development, there can be no
sustainable future for Sierra Leone. We cannot forever be blinded by cosmetic and short term infrastructural and other tokens. We must create a society where every child is nurtured, nourished, protected, and equipped with the knowledge and skills required to realise his or her full potential. That is beyond ethnicity. That is beyond party politics. After 60 years of Independence, there can be no better tribute to our nation’s founding fathers than a determination to operationalise meaningful Human Capital Development. Human Capital Development is not a slogan. It is inclusive.
It is the key to achieving sustainable development with our own human resources, using home-grown solutions, empowering our local communities, and enabling innovation, creativity, and technology to bridge the development gap.”
So, I admonish that, we should not play politics with HCD cum Free Quality Education. It is the starting point of adding value to our most important resources (the people). It is a blessing to this country and it would enable us to be like USA and Britain where everybody wants to go even with COVID-19 ravaging the whole place! Nick Kristof and Sherly both Pulitzer prize winning journalists succinctly put it this way: “A country cannot reach its potential when so many of its citizens are not reaching theirs.”