LONDON – Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for significant investment in education, innovation, and youth empowerment as the foundation for strengthening democracy and driving development across Commonwealth nations.
Obi made the call following a meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey, at the organisation’s headquarters in London on Thursday, October 16.
Writing on his X account on Friday, Obi, who attended the meeting with his wife, said the discussion focused on “promoting democracy, deepening the rule of law, expanding access to education, and empowering young people across Commonwealth nations.”
‘Youth Are the Greatest Asset’
Obi emphasized the critical role of young people within the 56-member organisation.
“With over 2.5 billion of the Commonwealth’s population under the age of 30, young people remain the organisation’s greatest asset and hope for the future,” he stated.
Focusing on Nigeria, he added, “Meaningful investment in education, innovation, and entrepreneurship is key to unlocking the vast potential of our youth. When properly equipped, our young people will not only drive national development but also contribute significantly to global progress.”
He identified youth unemployment as “one of the most pressing challenges of our time,” which requires “intentional and practical action” through skills development and creating an enabling environment for small and medium-scale enterprises.
Shared Vision and Priorities
According to Obi, Secretary-General Botchwey, the first African woman to lead the organisation, reaffirmed that her top priorities include “education, youth engagement, and employment creation.”
Obi praised her as “a trailblazer whose dedication to education, youth empowerment, and democratic ideals strengthens the global Commonwealth community.” He quoted her as stressing that empowering young people is “indispensable to shaping a stable, peaceful, and prosperous future for all Commonwealth citizens.”
As of Friday, the Commonwealth has not yet issued an official statement on the meeting.
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