Frontline presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi, has called on governments at all levels to prioritise education and human capital development over physical infrastructure, warning that neglecting the sector continues to slow Nigeria’s progress.

Obi made the appeal while delivering a keynote address at the Fourth Public Lecture of Coal City University in Enugu, themed “Repositioning Nigeria’s Education Sector: Private Sector Partnership for National Growth and Global Competitiveness.”

He argued that no nation can achieve sustainable development without investing in its people, describing education as the bedrock of leadership, productivity, and innovation.

“You cannot continue building physical infrastructure without building human infrastructure,” Obi said, pointing to countries like China and India as examples of how sustained investment in education and technology can drive rapid national growth.

He noted that Nigeria continues to lag behind in key Human Development Index indicators, including life expectancy, literacy rates, and income per capita, largely due to insufficient investment in education and healthcare.

Obi also raised concerns about the country’s persistent out-of-school children crisis, warning that it poses a serious threat to productivity and long-term economic development. He stressed the need for increased funding and stronger support for both public and private educational institutions to address systemic challenges.

Highlighting the role of collaboration, he called for deeper partnerships between government and the private sector to expand access to quality education and encourage innovation.

Chairman of the lecture, former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, challenged the growing narrative that “education is a scam,” attributing such views to inconsistent policies that have left many graduates without relevant skills. He emphasized the importance of policy continuity and mentorship beyond the classroom to improve employability.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Coal City University, Prof. Afam Itcha-Ituma, said the institution’s Distinguished Speaker Series aims to foster intellectual engagement and expose students to practical ideas that contribute to national development.

The lecture brought together academics, professionals, and industry leaders, reinforcing the growing consensus that meaningful investment in education is critical to Nigeria’s global competitiveness and future prosperity.