By Precious Mark
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi has pledged to eradicate the menace of out-of-school children of he is elected as president.
Obi made the pledge when he unveiled a national economic blueprint aimed at addressing governance abuses, rising unemployment, and the continuous decline in the quality of life across the country.
In his policy statement titled “My Vision for a Productive and Prosperous Nigeria,” Obi pledged to implement deep structural reforms to transition the nation’s economy into a production-centered model.
He expressed deep concern over the paradox where critical skilled labor remains scarce within the country, forcing Nigerian entrepreneurs to set up businesses in neighboring countries while local youth unemployment figures soar.
Obi noted that his proposed roadmap would heavily prioritize massive industrialization, social justice, and extensive investments in human capital development through education and healthcare.
“From the outset of my presidency, we will establish a task force dedicated to drastically reducing the menace of out-of-school children. We will place greater emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to support our drive for massive industrialisation,” Obi stated.
He explained that his administration would pattern its vocational sector after the German dual education system, merging classroom learning with hands-on apprenticeship opportunities funded through partnerships between the government, the private sector, and social entrepreneurs.
According to him, these technical programs will align with regional agricultural endowments across the country, channeling resources into value-added manufacturing networks across designated industrial zones in all geopolitical regions.
While promising to unveil further strategic insights into his governance roadmap in the coming weeks, Mr. Obi re-echoed his commitment to national cohesion, highlighting that equity and inclusion remain crucial infrastructure for meaningful national progress.