OPINION: Human resource is the greatest asset

Sometime back one of my readers brought to my attention of a country that provides free education to its citizens from pre-primary to tertiary levels for all her citizens. According to my reader, even transport for school children is provided and free health care services for the citizens.

Guess which country is this in Africa? We are talking about Mauritius. A small nation which by the time she got independence (1968), her per capita income was about $400. Come today, Mauritius GDP is better off than that of many other countries, which at independence had better prospects and were geographically bigger.

A little desktop study shows that, Mauritius managed to attain a middle income status, despite its smallness and many challenges. It has steadily, diversified economy, and risen up from a low-income, agriculturally dependant economy and become a growing industrial, financial, ICT and tourist hub.

At independence, 90 per cent of her economy was based on sugar production. Today, only less than 5 per cent of the economy is based on sugar production.

The reader of this column, S.L Kalamata, noted: “Cognizant of the reality (that) they lack natural resources, Mauritius recognised that her people were its only asset.” The assertion is also recognised by celebrated economist Joseph Stiglitz.

A quick check, shows, Mauritius has a Ministry of Education and Human Resources. It also has what they call “The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC)” which “look after and promote the development of the labour force..in line with the requirements of a fast growing economy.”

There are many private companies that declare their human resource as their greatest wealth. Industrialist Reginald Mengi recently posited that the human mind is the fundamental resource in his establishments rather than land, buildings or even the capital invested. This just goes a long way to prove that Mauritius’ linking of mainstream education and human resource business has greatly paid off, if economic advancement is to be considered.

The Global Human Capital Report 2017 noted that “All too often however, human potential is not realised...” The report adds that “Human capital is a key factor for growth, development and competitiveness.”

Maybe, other African countries need to borrow from Mauritius in building human resource. Faithfulness, trust and other values that have huge impact on business and economy, from the family levels, often miss. We also complain of lack of adequate skills from our graduates.

Then when we come to those who are less educated (with primary and secondary school education), the working culture sometimes is wanting. Assume, someone working in Dar es Salaam, buys two motorbikes for business or open a small shop. He hires two guys including a relative to run the business. They eat up the capital and everything else. Then the small business runs down within no time. The story repeats itself over and over again. So what is wrong with our HR early teaching?

From very young age, parents should start preparing our children as great human resource. African countries should raise kids with the right mental attitude, about hard work and its values. For any country, or any business, without having very strategic and effective HR, returns on investments often will be very little and sometimes even negative.

African countries, businesses and families must recognise the human capital development as the most important component of development. It is the key for our nations to develop, and for our people to own the biggest part of the national cake.

Look for example in the world of the internet-- it is those companies from the west, and now also from China that are taking the lion’s share. Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, Ali baba etc, they all make a lot of money out of Africa. Development our human capital is our only way out.