Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 election, has called on Nigerian youths and other well-meaning citizens to unite in dismantling the prevalent criminality and corruption entrenched at various levels of government in the country.
Obi made this statement during an interactive session with Nigerian youths in Enugu, where he engaged with young entrepreneurs, youth advocates, and change agents. The session focused on discussing strategies to accelerate actions in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria through entrepreneurship and civic engagement.
Addressing the participants, Obi highlighted the connection between the Sustainable Development Goals and the preceding Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) from 2000 to 2015. He noted that unlike some other nations such as China, India, and Vietnam, Nigeria failed to achieve any of the MDGs due to a lack of integration into the country’s development agenda.
Obi emphasized the urgency of addressing extreme poverty, citing statistics that during the MDG implementation period, more Nigerians became impoverished, while countries like China and India successfully lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty.
Discussing the education sector, Obi pointed out the stark contrast between the progress made by China and India in the Human Development Index and the challenges faced by sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria, which currently holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest number of out-of-school children globally.
Expressing his concerns, Obi commented on the formidable challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty eradication and universal basic education by 2030.
In offering solutions, Obi encouraged the youth to embrace entrepreneurship, emphasizing its role in building a robust small business sector that can stimulate the economy, enhance productivity, and transition the nation from a consumption-based to a production-based economy.
Concluding his address, Obi reminded the youth that Nigeria belongs to them, urging them not to succumb to challenges and poor governance but to raise their voices and demand good governance. He stressed the importance of collective efforts to dismantle criminality and corruption embedded in various government levels, emphasizing the need for perseverance and collaboration. Obi’s call resonates with the broader discourse on the role of Nigerian youth in shaping the nation’s future. Findwhosabi News will continue to monitor developments related to governance and civic engagement in Nigeria.