Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has declared that education remains the most essential and immeasurable component of human development, insisting that no nation can achieve meaningful progress without investing in the intellectual growth of its people, especially children.
Obi, speaking in a passionate statement that has stirred conversation nationwide, emphasized that countries with high educational attainment consistently rank as more developed. According to him, the most effective policy a government can pursue is ensuring that its population, particularly the younger generation, has access to quality education.
He expressed deep concern over the ongoing neglect of education in Nigeria, pointing specifically to the prolonged strike affecting public primary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. “Nigeria was not only a signatory to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which both identify education as a key indicator of progress, but we also have in place the Universal Basic Education law mandating free access to basic education for every child,” Obi said.
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He lamented that despite Abuja being the nation’s capital, pupils have been out of school for over three months due to the unresolved strike, highlighting a severe leadership disconnect. “When the strike started, everyone assumed it would last a few days. But here we are, three months later, with our children still at home, and yet we continue prioritizing the renovation of physical infrastructure over the minds of our future leaders,” Obi said.
He stressed that true national development is rooted not in roads or buildings, but in an educated, empowered population. “The foundation of every society’s growth is its educated citizens. Building schools without building the minds within them is meaningless. A nation that keeps its children out of school is investing in insecurity, poverty, and underdevelopment,” he warned.
Obi called on the government at all levels to place greater emphasis on human capital development, particularly in the areas of basic education, primary healthcare, and poverty alleviation. He reiterated that the path to a better and stronger Nigeria lies in educating its people and preparing them for the challenges of tomorrow.
“We must prioritize investment in human capital. That is the only way to lift people out of poverty and drive inclusive growth. That is how nations evolve. That is how we can truly build the New Nigeria that is possible,” Obi concluded.
