Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has urged global leaders to prioritise youth empowerment, innovation, and education as key pillars for sustaining democracy and driving development across Commonwealth nations.
Obi made the call after a meeting with Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mrs. Shirley Botchwey, at the organisation’s headquarters in London on Thursday, October 16, 2025.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Obi said the discussion centred 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 essential to unlock the vast potential of its youth.
“When properly equipped, our young people will not only drive national development but also contribute significantly to global progress,” he added.
Obi identified youth unemployment as “one of the most pressing challenges of our time,” stressing the need for “intentional and practical action” through skill development, quality education, and the creation of an enabling environment for small and medium-scale enterprises.
In a statement signed by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mrs. Shirley Botchwey, she reaffirmed that her leadership priorities include “education, youth engagement, and employment creation.”
According to Obi, Mrs. Botchwey “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 stated.
Quoting the Secretary-General, Obi noted that “empowering young people is not only vital to sustaining democracy but also indispensable to shaping a stable, peaceful, and prosperous future for all Commonwealth citizens.”
He described Botchwey as “a trailblazer whose dedication to education, youth empowerment, and democratic ideals strengthens the global Commonwealth community.”
“I remain confident that with leaders like her, the Commonwealth will continue to serve as a beacon of unity, hope, and shared progress for its member nations,” Obi added
