By Dennis Agbo & Chinedu Adonu

Frontline presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Peter Obi, has urged governments at all levels to prioritise education and human capital development over physical infrastructure, warning that underinvestment in education continues to undermine Nigeria’s development.

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

He said sustainable national development cannot be achieved without strong investment in education, which he described as the foundation for leadership, productivity, and innovation.

“You cannot continue building physical infrastructure without building human infrastructure,” Obi said, stressing that countries such as China and India achieved rapid development by investing heavily in education, technology, and human capital.

He noted that Nigeria continues to lag behind in key development indicators due to weak investment in education and healthcare.

Obi cited Human Development Index (HDI) indicators such as life expectancy, literacy rate, and income per capita, arguing that education remains the most critical driver of national progress.

He expressed concern over Nigeria’s education challenges, including high numbers of out-of-school children, which he said hinder productivity and economic growth.

According to him, improved funding and stronger support for both public and private education institutions are necessary to address systemic gaps and improve outcomes.

Obi also called for stronger collaboration between government and private sector stakeholders to enhance access to quality education and promote innovation.

Chairman of the lecture and former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, dismissed the notion that “education is a scam,” attributing such sentiments to policy inconsistencies that have left many graduates unemployable.

He stressed the need for continuity in education policy and stronger mentorship structures beyond the classroom to improve graduate outcomes.

Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of Coal City University, Prof. Afam Itcha-Ituma, said the institution’s Distinguished Speaker Series is designed to promote intellectual engagement and expose students to real-world ideas that support societal development.

He added that the platform brings together academics, professionals, and industry leaders to contribute to national discourse and knowledge advancement.