By Kamil Opeyemi
The presidential candidate of labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has urged those at the helm of affairs in the country to invest more in education.
Obi while delivering a keynote address at the graduation ceremony of students of Pacesetters Academy, Abuja, emphasized the need for the country to invest more in education adding that “without education, there cannot be meaningful development.”
He noted that education was the most important thing that any nation needed, saying that “What differentiates development and underdeveloped was education.”
“For me, education is the most important thing that any nation needs. What differentiates developed and underdeveloped is education. It is the foundation. Even when you go out and people tell you about measures of development being hinged on the human development index and they tell you it is education, health and per capital income.
“I will tell you that of all these three, health is about education. If you don’t have a well-educated society, you can’t have a healthy society,” he said.
“You can’t put people out of poverty without education. The more people are educated, the more they pull themselves out of poverty and that is critical.
“The more you put people out of poverty, the more you reduce criminality in the society and you can’t do that unless you invest in education. You can’t have 20 million out-of-school children and think of development tomorrow. We must have to invest in education.
“If you follow 2022 world population of countries, the population of Norway, the population of Island, the population of Singapore and the population of Dubai, if you put the population of these big successful countries together, we are talking of the population of 19.7 million and we are talking of 20 million out-of-school children, so we are more than population of these four successful, thriving, respectable developed countries put together out of school.
“Imagine what it will be if we invest in education. So investment in education is critical,” he added
Speaking further, the former Anambra State governor said “it’s time to encourage teachers, adding that “it’s important to appreciate teachers for the betterment of students.
While congratulating the graduands, Obi asked them to remain steadfast, dedicated and committed to the development of the country.
“I urge you to remain dedicated and steadfast on your lane. Let the goodwill and name of your school reflects in your doings.
“All of you sitting down here today has something to contribute to development of this country. Nigeria will be great,” he added
The program held at International Conference Center, Abuja was graced by Emir of Dutse, Hameem Nuhu Sanusi, the National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, Parents and Guardians.
Others include graduands, students and well wishers.