Today in Benin, I joined my very Dear Elder Brother and Former President of Nigeria, H. E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan @GEJonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan, at the 2024 Democracy Day Dialogue, organised by The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.
It’s my sincere way of appreciating President Jonathan for his singular immeasurable sacrifice of deepening our democracy by conducting a free, fair and credible election and accepting the result that was even against him, for the peace, progress and future of the nation.
Conducting a free and fair election, I have always maintained, is the most important foundation of democracy and building of a new Nigeria that is possible. I also thanked him for his immense contribution to education in the nation, which is the most fundamental requirement for national development. Sadly, in the area of human development index; education, health and pulling people out of poverty, Nigeria has remained low.
With a human capital score of 0.36 Nigeria is ranked 168th out of 174 countries on the human capital index and this has contributed immensely to the poor socio-economic situation in Nigeria. The crisis we face today, in many parts of the country, is a result of the young ones we failed to educate and the people we failed to pull out of poverty in the past.
We must invest in education and pull people out of poverty to end the crises and insecurity rocking the nation.
The event was graciously attended by the host Governor, H. E Godwin Obaseki and his wife, Betsy Obaseki; Former President of Kenya, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta; Former President of Benin Republic, Thomas Boni Yayi; Former Vice President of Zambia, Dr. Nevers Mumba; Former Vice President of Nigeria, Namadi Sambo and many other dignitaries.