Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has promised that if elected, his administration will unite Nigeria as a country to achieve robust human capital development.
Obi made the pledge on Wednesday when he unveiled his vision for a “productive and prosperous Nigeria”.
While writing on his official X handle, Obi, who placed uniting Nigeria as his top priority for robust human capital development, said: “When I decided to contest for the office of president of Nigeria, I pledged to place Nigeria on the path of unity and national transformation. Now, as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, I will, in the coming weeks and months, provide insights into the roadmap that I am confident will help curb abuse in government, halt the decline in the quality of life of Nigerians at all levels, and usher in an era of unity, peace, sustained progress, and prosperity.”
The former governor of Anambra State described robust human capital as the foundation for national development, adding that investment in education and healthcare was essential to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.
He said his administration would establish a task force to reduce the number of out-of-school children and place greater relevance on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to support industrialisation and economic growth.
“From the outset of my presidency, we will establish a task force dedicated to drastically reducing the menace of out-of-school children. We will place greater emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to support our drive for massive industrialisation, anchored on our agricultural endowments and value addition across value chains organised around industrial parks to be located in development zones across the geopolitical regions of the country.
“Funding and improved equipment of TVET institutions, through partnerships among government, the private sector, and social entrepreneurs such as faith-based educators, will facilitate apprenticeship opportunities in the private sector, similar to the German dual education system.”
Obi said the reforms would address the shortage of skilled labour that has forced many Nigerian entrepreneurs to establish businesses outside the country despite high unemployment at home.
He also pledged to strengthen character and civic education to promote trust, responsible leadership and shared national values, saying such reforms would support his vision of transforming Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy to a production-driven one.
“Character and civic education, emphasising the values that foster trust—an essential ingredient for enterprise and leadership—as well as shared national values, will receive significant attention within the tripartite approach to governance that we propose. A New Nigeria is Possible.”
