Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi has called for a shift from consumption to production, saying Nigeria must harness the skills of its young population and diaspora professionals to drive economic development.
Obi made the call at the end of a four-day working visit to the United States, where he engaged Nigerian professionals and members of the diaspora on governance, economic reforms and the future of Nigeria’s youthful population.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria’s development challenge was not a shortage of talent or natural resources, but the need for leadership capable of deploying both more effectively.
He said the country needed to invest in education and healthcare, support businesses and entrepreneurs, create productive jobs and strengthen institutions to give young Nigerians greater opportunities to build their lives at home.
“We must move Nigeria from consumption to production. We must invest in education, healthcare, and our people, support enterprise, create productive jobs, and build an economy that gives our young people genuine reasons to believe in their future at home,” Obi said.
Diaspora talent as economic asset
Obi said his meetings with Nigerian doctors, lawyers, engineers, technology professionals, educators, entrepreneurs and business leaders in the US reinforced the scale of expertise Nigerians had developed globally.
He argued that Nigerians living abroad should be treated as participants in national development rather than people who had simply left the country.
“The knowledge, experience, and innovation of Nigerians in the diaspora are enormous national assets,” he said.
According to Obi, Nigeria should create conditions that enable its diaspora to return, invest and contribute to the economy, while ensuring that young Nigerians at home can pursue their ambitions without having to migrate to achieve them.
“Our young people should not have to leave Nigeria before their talents are recognised or their dreams become possible,” he said.
He said stronger investment in human capital and productive enterprise would be central to building an economy where opportunities were based on competence and contribution.
Leadership reform critical
Obi also argued that leadership reform was fundamental to the economic and institutional changes Nigeria requires.
“Important as our economic, political, and institutional reforms are, the most important reform Nigeria needs is the reform of leadership itself,” he said.
“No nation can rise above the character, competence, capacity, and commitment of those entrusted with its leadership.”
He said responsible management of public resources, stronger institutions and investment in people were necessary to create a more productive economy.
Obi said his US engagements had also included discussions with prominent personalities and diaspora media organisations, including NoireTV Network and Adeola Talks.
He said the visit had reinforced his belief in the capacity of Nigerians at home and abroad to contribute to national development.
“Our challenges are great, but our potential is greater. We have the people, the talent, and the resources to build a country where opportunity is not determined by who you know or where you come from, but by what you can contribute,” Obi said.
He said the conversations would continue with Nigerians at home and across the diaspora.
