This paper explores the vital role of human capital development in nation building, particularly within the context of increasing globalization and youth unemployment in African countries, including Nigeria. With economic downturns affecting job creation and productivity, human capital development emerges as a key strategy for sustainable national progress. The study critically analyzes the impact of education, skills acquisition, and capacity building on national development and argues that highly developed human capital will serve as a major source of comparative advantage in the 21st-century global economy. The paper concludes by advocating for the adoption of rigorous academic standards aligned with those of developed nations as a strategic intervention to strengthen Nigeria’s human capital base and advance its nation-building agenda.
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