By Our Correspondent
Former Labour Party presidential candidate and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has explained why he continues to invest in education and healthcare, saying no nation can achieve sustainable development without placing its people at the centre of governance.
Obi said his continued support for schools and hospitals is driven by his belief that human capital development remains the most valuable investment any country can make. He maintained that nations that prioritize quality education and accessible healthcare are better positioned to achieve economic growth, social stability, and lasting prosperity.
Speaking during a recent engagement, the former Anambra governor explained that his interventions in educational and medical institutions should not be viewed as acts of charity but as strategic investments in Nigeria’s future. According to him, every classroom built, every student supported, and every hospital strengthened contributes directly to national progress.
“Education and healthcare are the foundation of development,” Obi said, adding that a nation cannot expect meaningful economic transformation while neglecting the welfare and intellectual growth of its citizens.
He noted that quality education equips young people with the knowledge, skills, and innovation needed to compete in the global economy, while a functional healthcare system helps build a healthy and productive workforce capable of driving national development.
Drawing from the experiences of developed countries, Obi said many of the world’s most successful economies achieved progress by investing consistently in human capital. He urged governments to devote more attention and resources to sectors that directly improve the quality of life of citizens instead of focusing mainly on physical infrastructure.
According to him, investments in schools and hospitals produce long-term social and economic benefits, including lower poverty rates, improved productivity, reduced unemployment, and stronger institutions. He said a well-educated and healthy population remains the greatest asset any nation can possess.
Obi also called for closer collaboration between governments, the private sector, development partners, religious organizations, and philanthropists to improve access to quality education and healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved communities where basic social services remain inadequate.
He urged wealthy Nigerians and corporate organizations to support educational and healthcare initiatives that uplift vulnerable communities. Such collective efforts, he said, are essential to closing existing gaps in service delivery and creating equal opportunities for all citizens.
The former presidential candidate also encouraged young Nigerians to embrace education as a pathway to personal growth and national development, while calling on policymakers to implement reforms that would strengthen public schools, expand healthcare infrastructure, and improve the welfare of teachers and medical professionals.
Obi expressed optimism that Nigeria’s enormous human and natural resources could be harnessed for sustainable development through deliberate investments in people. He said when governments prioritize education and healthcare, they lay the foundation for innovation, economic resilience, and inclusive growth.
He urged leaders at every level to adopt policies that place citizens at the centre of development, insisting that building functional schools and efficient hospitals is not merely a social responsibility but a wise investment that will shape Nigeria’s future for generations to come.
