The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has released the second part of his Roadmap to a New Nigeria, reaffirming that quality education and accessible healthcare are the foundation of national development and economic prosperity.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Obi said the two sectors are indispensable to building a productive and prosperous Nigeria, stressing that no nation can achieve sustainable growth without investing heavily in its people.
The former Anambra State governor recalled that the first part of his vision, unveiled on July 1, outlined a broad framework for national renewal centred on rebuilding Nigeria’s human capital through education, healthcare, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), character and civic education, and strategic investments aimed at transforming the country from a consumption-driven economy into a production-driven one.
Expanding on the roadmap, Obi described education and healthcare as the “bedrock upon which every prosperous nation is built,” adding that strengthening both sectors would create opportunities for citizens and help address insecurity by reducing the number of disaffected youths vulnerable to criminal activities.
Drawing from global examples, Obi cited Nobel Prize-winning economist Angus Deaton’s book, The Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality, to support his argument that countries with quality education and healthcare consistently outperform those that neglect the sectors.
He dismissed the notion held by some young Nigerians that “education is a scam,” insisting that education, when complemented by good healthcare, remains the most reliable path to personal advancement and national economic growth.
Obi also pointed to the development models of Singapore and China, urging Nigeria to intentionally align its education system with national development priorities, as Singapore did, and to emulate China’s emphasis on education under Deng Xiaoping’s reforms beginning in 1978.
According to him, an NDC administration would strengthen collaboration among all tiers of government through relevant commissions, ensuring that primary education is effectively managed at the community and local government levels, with active parental participation and curricula tailored to local economic realities.
He further pledged support for state governments to expand access to quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as well as general secondary education through targeted grants and incentives.
Obi added that his administration would introduce reforms to enable Nigerian universities to specialise in specific areas of teaching and research, improve their global competitiveness, and produce graduates equipped with the skills required for the future economy.
The statement was signed by the spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Idris Zekeri Jnr, on July 16, 2026.
