Watch: Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi on his plans to transform Nigeria’s economy and how he will address the challenges of poverty in Africa
Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi has made it clear he would like to address the challenges of poverty in Africa, particularly in Nigeria.
In an interview with HuffPost’s Ini Jegede, he said: “There is a lot of poverty in Africa that does not come with hunger, as we have heard, but comes with the burden of illiteracy, and lack of access to education for youth. As part of my presidential platform, I would be discussing the challenge of poverty in Africa with the youth, and the challenges in Africa.”
Obi said he would “look at the big issues of poverty, and what we’re doing about it.” He added: “I would look at the economic development issue in Africa, and my platform, if put together, it would be a platform that addresses the challenges of poverty globally, and the challenges in Africa.”
HuffPost’s Ini Jegede is a Nigerian-American journalist who writes about Africa and the world.
What do you think about Peter Obi’s plan to improve the lives of Nigerians? Let us know in the comments.
Jegede: On poverty in Africa, Obi is right. The problem is that most Africans believe that poverty is about hunger. Poor people are poor because somebody is hungry. A few degrees of hunger does not mean that somebody can’t build a roof over their head and pay their basic needs. Poverty is not about hunger. Poverty is a state of not having the bare necessities.
Obi says he will discuss poverty, hunger, and economic development with the youth. That is one of the most important pillars of the African revolution, and the revolution that we are trying to bring to Nigeria. But, I don’t think he actually believes that poverty is because of hunger.
Why? Because the reason you are poor is because you are not working. You are not building the roof over your head. Maybe you are working hard, and you are trying, but you are not making that money or spending the money. So you are not getting ahead, and you are not getting educated, because you don
