Fund education, tackle worsening insecurity, Obi tells FG

From Jude Chinedu, Enugu

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government to prioritise funding for education and take decisive steps to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Obi made the call while delivering a keynote address at the 4th Public Lecture of Coal City University, where he stressed that no nation could achieve meaningful development without investing in its people.

He said Nigeria must significantly increase funding for education, noting that both public and private schools require support to cater to the country’s large and growing population of learners.

“Education is an investment and a critical tool for development. We have about 20 million out-of-school children. The government must invest in both public and private schools because they serve Nigerians,” he said.

Linking education to national stability, Obi warned that neglecting the sector could worsen insecurity and deepen existing social challenges. He argued that countries that have made lasting progress did so by first investing in human capital.

“If Nigeria is to achieve greatness like other countries, the government must support and equip all schools. Every child is entitled to education and human infrastructure remains the foundation for progress,” he said.

The former Anambra governor also expressed concern over Nigeria’s poor performance in global development rankings, noting that the country continues to trail behind several African nations in the Human Development Index.

He added that weak investment in education and healthcare contributes to rising poverty and high infant mortality rates.

Addressing the growing sentiment among some youths that education is no longer valuable, he blamed governance failures, insisting that the real problem lies in leadership.

“The government is a scam, not education. Producing graduates without creating employment opportunities defeats the purpose. Skills acquisition must be prioritised,” he said.

He maintained that corruption and poor leadership remain major obstacles to progress, warning that without fixing these issues, increased investment in education may not yield the desired results.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Afam Icha-Ituma, said the lecture series was designed to promote ideas that shape society and drive development.

He noted that the platform brings together stakeholders from academia, industry and policy circles to foster practical solutions and bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.