By Daniel Dauda, Jos In line with its constitutional mandate, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPPS has concluded arrangement to key into rigorous training of senior executive course(SEC) No.42 year 2020. The 77 Participants which drawn from the armed forces, the police, para-military and other security agencies, Federal and state civil services, professional bodies, women societies and the organized private sector were to under go extensive programme of ten months duration. According to Director-General of NIPPS, Prof. Habu Galadima " the National Institute, overtime, has served as capacity extension of government and has systematically been openning up implementation strategies that are configured to to run on the operating systems of policy -makers. Indeed, it has served as important catalysts for ideas and actions. " The course is aimed at expanding the outlook and perspective of the participants and to stretch their conceptual capacity and quality of discernment and analysis. "In this respect, the course seeks to improve the overall performance of participants in their different professions,as well as prepare them to appreciate short and long term national planning processes." DG, Prof. Galadima also revealed that the theme approved for senior executive course 42, 2019 is "Population Growth and Human Capital Development in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities." He said the theme has been structure into six sub-themes which includes; understanding population growth and human capital development, trends in population growth and human capital development in Nigeria, Frameworks for managing population growth and human capital development in Nigeria, population growth and human capital development in Nigeria: challenges and Opportunities, population growth and human capital development: comparative analysis as well as population growth and human capital development in Nigeria: policy options and strategies respectively. He appreciates president Muhammadu Buhari for the early and expeditious consideration of the theme for SEC 42 as well as timely approval of the course nominees list. Performing the inauguration of SEC 42 participants, the Nigerian vice president, Prof. Yemi Osimbajo said over the years successive government and present administration is battling with the challenge of addressing population growth and human capital development. Osimbajo who was represented by Acting Head of service of the Federation Dr. Mrs. Folashade Yemi-Esan assure president Muhammadu Buhari's administration resolved to address population growth from negative to positive path. She charged participants to be more proactive in researching carefully and proffer solutions, noting that the theme is timely and critical because it has to do with economic and well being of the people. In his good will message, Plateau state Governor, Simon Lalong, represented by the Head of service, Izang Atang Izam urged 77 nominees of SEC 42 to work hard and distinguish themselves, said they should count themselves amongst the privileged. He expressed government readiness and commitment to continue supporting the Institute(NIPPS) to achieve its desire mandate.