Former Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi and his wife held a strategic meeting on Thursday, October 16, with Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey at the Commonwealth Headquarters in London. The discussions focused on advancing youth empowerment, expanding access to education, and strengthening democratic institutions across member nations.
Obi emphasized the importance of investing in education, innovation, and entrepreneurship as key drivers of national development, particularly in Nigeria. “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,” he said.
He highlighted youth unemployment as a critical challenge, calling for targeted interventions through skills development, quality education, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. “When properly equipped, our young people will not only drive national development but also contribute significantly to global progress,” Obi added.
Hon. Botchwey, the first African woman to lead the 56-member Commonwealth, reaffirmed her commitment to youth engagement, education, and employment creation. She underscored the need to build inclusive societies rooted in democracy, good governance, and equal opportunity.
“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,” Botchwey said.
Obi commended the Secretary-General’s visionary leadership, describing her as a trailblazer whose dedication to reform and inclusion continues to elevate the voices of developing nations within the Commonwealth. “With leaders like her, the Commonwealth will continue to serve as a beacon of unity, hope, and shared progress,” he stated.
The meeting comes amid renewed global focus on youth-led development and democratic resilience, as Commonwealth nations prepare for upcoming forums on education and governance.