Dare Babalola
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi met with Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey at the Commonwealth Headquarters in London on Thursday.
According to the former Anambra governor in a post he made on X on Friday, the meeting focused on promoting democracy, education, and youth empowerment across Commonwealth nations.
He attended the meeting alongside his wife, Margaret Obi.
Obi emphasised the importance of investing in education, innovation, and entrepreneurship to unlock the potential of young people, particularly in Nigeria. He also highlighted the need to address youth unemployment through skills development and job creation.
He wrote, “Our discussions 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. I 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, “I further noted that youth unemployment remains one of the most pressing challenges of our time. 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.”
Botchwey reaffirmed her commitment to education, youth engagement, and employment creation, stressing the need for inclusive societies that promote democracy and equal opportunities.
She also stressed 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. Her commitment to youth inclusion, education, and institutional reform reflects the enduring values of the Commonwealth.
Obi commended Botchwey’s leadership, describing her as a trailblazer dedicated to education, youth empowerment, and democratic ideals.
