ABSTRACT

 The studyfocused on impact ofhuman capital development on economic development in Nigeria spanning 1981 to 2018. The objectives of the study were to investigate the impact of human capital development on economic development in Nigeria and to ascertain the long run relationship between human capital development and economic development in Nigeria. The study employed Ordinary Least Square regression technique and Johanson cointegration, thus revealed that; government expenditure on education andper capital income have a positive but insignificant impact on economic development in Nigeria. Government expenditure on health, life expectancy rate and population growth have a positive and significant impact on economic development in Nigeria. Lastly there exist a long run relationship between human capital development and economic development in Nigeria. Based on the finding, the study revealed that; government should make health care accessible through improving its affordability to the common individual in society by so doing increasing life expectancy rate and human capital development, in turn lead to economic development in the country. Government should increase wage and salary, thus, increasing per capital income. This will encourage human capital development in Nigeria. Average population growth rate ofNigeria shoidd be maintained since it isfound to impact significantly on human capital development in Nigeria within the period of study. The Nigeria government should make health care and education more accessible through improving its affordability to the common individual in society so as to boost the economic development ofNigeria through human capital development.