Nigeria plagued by corruption, says Peter Obi

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has decried the high rate of corruption in Nigeria.

According to him, both past and present generations have failed to address corruption effectively, adding that government officials and citizens alike are guilty of corrupt practices.

Obi stated this on Saturday while speaking as the guest speaker at the 4th graduation ceremony of Nexford University in Lagos. The event was themed: “Lead the Change; Ignite Your Future.”

“For governance, don’t think when we talk about vices it is only Yahoo boys. There are actually more Yahoo people in government than outside because we have turned the entire country into a crime scene where people inside are stealing and people outside are stealing,” he said.

He urged the graduates to utilise their knowledge to effect positive change in their environments and stressed the importance of quality leadership.

Obi also called for the establishment of more online universities in the country to accommodate the growing number of university applicants.

“It is about leadership and igniting the future. It is not rocket science, but it is difficult. It involves having a strong character and the ability to avoid doing the wrong thing.

“It is up to you to help bring meaningful change to the society in which you want to live. You have acquired knowledge today. Use what you have learnt to help us transform society.

“You are victims of Nigeria because my generation and the one before failed to do what was right, and you are suffering for it.

“Countries like Pakistan, India, Turkey, and Bangladesh have online universities with more students than all our universities combined. We need to follow their example and massively educate our people because education is one of the most important tools for development,” Obi said.

Also speaking at the event, former Minister of Education, Obi Ezekwesili, encouraged the graduates to contribute to nation-building through meaningful service.

“Service is the highest form of leadership. We hope that you see graduation as an opportunity to serve your country,” she said.

“The world of work you are entering is different from ours. You need to master this new environment,” she added.

The founder of the institution, Fadl Al Tarzi, noted that no fewer than 1,200 students graduated, earning both undergraduate and Master’s degrees.

He called for the development of Artificial Intelligence, stressing its potential to enhance productivity and solve complex problems.

“We have had AI specialisation for almost five years now, and we have integrated AI into all our courses across all programmes.

“AI can boost the economy depending on how developed it becomes. However, it will also displace jobs in Nigeria and other markets. That said, its potential to increase productivity and accelerate research and development is significant,” he added.