Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has unveiled key elements of his proposed agenda for Nigeria, promising sweeping reforms in education, healthcare, and human capital development if elected.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 and made available to The News Chronicle, Obi recalled his pledge to place Nigeria on the path of national unity and transformation, saying he would, in the coming weeks and months, unveil a comprehensive roadmap aimed at ending poor governance, improving living standards, and fostering peace, progress, and shared prosperity.
According to him, the proposed blueprint will be anchored on the principles of unity, inclusion, social justice, equity, and the freedom of every Nigerian to pursue lawful aspirations.
Obi identified education and healthcare as the twin pillars of his development agenda, describing investment in human capital as the foundation for sustainable economic growth and effective public service delivery.
He said his administration would immediately establish a special task force to drastically reduce the number of out-of-school children while prioritising Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a catalyst for industrialisation.
The former Anambra State governor explained that strengthening TVET would support Nigeria’s manufacturing ambitions by leveraging the country’s agricultural resources and promoting value addition through industrial parks to be established across the nation’s geopolitical zones.
He also pledged to increase funding for vocational institutions and improve their facilities through strategic partnerships involving government, the private sector, and faith-based educational organisations. According to him, the initiative would create apprenticeship opportunities modelled after Germany’s renowned dual education system.
Obi lamented the paradox of rising unemployment despite the relocation of Nigerian entrepreneurs abroad due to shortages of skilled labour, insisting that addressing the skills gap is critical to transforming Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy into a production-based economy.
He further disclosed that character and civic education would form a key component of his administration’s governance agenda, with emphasis on instilling values that promote trust, responsible leadership, enterprise, and national cohesion.
