The Practice of Human Capital Development Process and Poverty Reduction: Consequences for Sustainable Development Goals in Ebonyi State, Nigeria Adeline Nnenna Idike 1 & Ikechukwu Ogeze Ukeje 1 & Udu Ogbulu 2 & Johnson Ngwuta Aloh 1 & Victoria Ugochi Obasi 1 & Kelechi Nwachukwu 1 & Kenneth Osuebi 1 & Ernest N. Ejem 1 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020 Abstract Of the goals of sustainable development (SD), human capital and poverty reduction are seen as the means and end. As they combine to shape other goals, they are equally the targets. However, how the synergy responds to the overall Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be divorced from the former’s processes and government com- mitment. This underscores centrality of human capital (HC) to achievement of poverty reduction and food security priorities. This paper assesses HC development practice and utilisation process. Focus group discussion and in-depth interviews used give our findings empirical underpinnings. This study reveals that the most critical HC aspect has been consistently neglected in empowerment scheme of Ebonyi state government. Keywords Participatory intervention . Human capital development process . Policy . Implementation . Sustainable development goals Introduction Failure to conduct a purposeful Human Development (HD) impact assessment of Millen- nium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nigeria awakens a serious concern for sustainable poverty reduction. Sustainability is anchored on the three pillars of social, economic and environmental preservation for the guaranteed present and future generations (Panwar and Thapliyal 2017; Turvey 2017; Ukeje et al. 2020a). Since its origin in 1972, with emphasis on achieving integration of economic development, environmental protection and, social justice and inclusion, attaining sustainable development has been challenging (Cobbinah Public Organization Review https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-020-00482-5 Adeline Nnenna Idike, Ikechukwu Ogeze Ukeje, Udu Ogbulu, Johnson Ngwuta Aloh, Victoria Ugochi Obasi, Kelechi Nwachukwu, Kenneth Osuebi, and Ernest N. Ejem contributed to the paper equally. * Ikechukwu Ogeze Ukeje Ikechukwu.ukejeike@funai.edu.ng; ukejeike@gmail.com Extended author information available on the last page of the article