Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has unveiled the second instalment of his policy blueprint for a “New Nigeria,” placing education and healthcare at the heart of his vision for economic transformation, national security and inclusive development.

In the latest phase of his roadmap released on Thursday, Obi argued that no nation can achieve lasting prosperity without investing aggressively in its people, maintaining that quality education and accessible healthcare are the twin pillars upon which successful societies are built.
The document, which follows the first phase of his national renewal agenda unveiled on July 1, expands on his proposals for rebuilding Nigeria’s human capital as the foundation for creating a productive, globally competitive economy.

“Education and healthcare remain the foundation of a renewed Nigeria,” Obi declared, adding that both sectors are essential to breaking the cycle of poverty, expanding opportunities and reducing the social conditions that fuel insecurity.
According to him, investing in education would ensure that “a son of nobody can become somebody,” while giving young Nigerians the skills and opportunities needed to avoid becoming recruits for criminality and violent extremism.

Obi rejected the increasingly popular claim among some youths that “education is a scam,” insisting that education, when combined with good healthcare, remains the strongest pathway to personal advancement and national development.
Quoting Nobel Prize-winning economist Angus Deaton’s work on the relationship between health, wealth and inequality, the former Anambra State governor argued that the world’s most prosperous nations distinguished themselves through sustained investment in human capital.

He pointed to Singapore’s education reforms and China’s transformation under Deng Xiaoping as examples Nigeria should emulate in aligning education with national development priorities.
Under his proposal, Obi said primary education would be driven largely at the community and local government levels with active parental participation, while school curricula would be redesigned to reflect local economic realities and productive value chains.

He also pledged federal support for states to expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), improve secondary education and equip young Nigerians with skills demanded by a modern economy.
Obi further outlined plans to reposition Nigerian universities by encouraging greater specialisation in teaching and research, enabling institutions to compete globally while producing graduates with industry-relevant competencies.

He reiterated that the roadmap would be released in phases, with subsequent editions focusing on other critical sectors of the economy and governance.
The NDC standard-bearer maintained that rebuilding education and healthcare is indispensable to achieving a secure, productive and prosperous Nigeria.
“A New Nigeria is Possible,” he said.