Leading opposition figure, Peter Obi has said that Nigeria’s failure to adequately invest in education is breeding poverty and insecurity.
Obi said this in a statement commemorating the International Day of Education.
The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) said, “Today, I join the global community to commemorate the International Day of Education.
“Education, as I have consistently maintained over the years, remains the most vital investment any nation can make in its citizens.
“As a critical tool of national development, education addresses many national and global issues of concern.
“Education remains a powerful tool in fighting poverty and inequality, in spreading peace and national cohesion, and in demanding and delivering good governance in a nation.
“It is the most effective instrument for migrating from poverty and ending insecurity.
“It has been observed and accepted that the more a country is educated, the more developed the country is.
“The corollary is also true that ; the less educated the country is, the less developed that country will be.
“In our country Nigeria, we are not where we should be because we have not invested in this critical tool – education, and that is driving our low development features, creating poverty and insecurity.”
Obi said it was regrettable that Nigeria remained the country with the highest number of out-of-school children, with about 20 million out-of-school children, and with a rating of 124 out of the 140 countries measured on education.
“This day, therefore, presents us, the leaders, an opportunity to soberly reflect on the priority we set on education and take urgent measures to address the shortcomings.
“We need to make more aggressive investments in the education sector and secure our nation so that learning can be accessible to all our citizens.
“My commitment remains to a New Nigeria where education is prioritized through adequate investment in the sector which will help our development, and in pulling people out of poverty,” Obi said.