Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for increased investment in education, innovation, and youth empowerment across Commonwealth nations.
Obi made the call during a meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey, at the organisation’s headquarters in London on Thursday, October 16, 2025.
Sharing details of the meeting on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Obi stated that the discussion, which he attended alongside his wife, focused on “promoting democracy, deepening the rule of law, expanding access to education, and empowering young people across Commonwealth nations.”
“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,” Obi said.
He emphasised that for Nigeria, “a nation richly endowed with human and natural resources, 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 added.
Obi described youth unemployment as “one of the most pressing challenges of our time,” noting that addressing it requires “intentional and practical action through skills development, access to quality education, and the creation of an enabling environment for small and medium-scale enterprises to thrive.”
On her part, Botchwey, the first African woman to lead the 56-member Commonwealth, reaffirmed that her priorities include education, youth engagement, and employment creation.
According to Obi, the Commonwealth chief “spoke passionately about the need to build inclusive societies that promote democracy, good governance, justice, and equal opportunity for all.”
“Her visionary, reform-minded leadership continues to amplify the voices of developing nations within the Commonwealth and inspire greater cooperation among member states,” Obi wrote.
He added that Botchwey believes empowering young people is essential to sustaining democracy and shaping a peaceful and prosperous future for all Commonwealth citizens.
Describing her as “a trailblazer whose dedication to education, youth empowerment, and democratic ideals strengthens the global Commonwealth community,” Obi expressed optimism that “with leaders like her, the Commonwealth will continue to serve as a beacon of unity, hope, and shared progress for its member nations.”