Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential aspirant and former Governor of Anambra State, recently attended a high-level conference in Kigali, Rwanda, where he joined prominent African leaders to discuss the continent’s challenges and opportunities. The conference, hosted by Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, provided a platform for in-depth discussions on critical issues affecting Africa’s future.
Reflecting on his participation, Peter Obi stated, “In pursuit of my desires and soul-searching for solutions to our country’s and continent’s challenges, I was in Kigali, Rwanda, over the weekend. I had several meetings, both planned and impromptu, with notable figures in the development sector. We discussed a wide range of topics, including personal issues, sports, and food insecurity.”
Obi emphasized the need for Africa, particularly Nigeria, to move from a consumption-driven economy to one focused on production. “Most of the comments I heard resonated with my beliefs. Whenever I talk about productivity, I maintain that our productivity is low, and my emphasis remains on our country moving from consumption to production,” he said.
He shared an example provided by the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, who spoke about Ethiopia’s efforts to close the productivity gap with China. “In their dealings with the Chinese, they found that the Chinese produce 6-7 times more than the Ethiopians could. They decided to act on this. Today, he recounted, ‘I can comfortably say that the average Ethiopian produces 60-70% of what the Chinese can do,'” Obi highlighted.
One of the significant moments of his visit was a productive meeting with Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame. “At the height of my meetings and engagements was a gracious opportunity to meet with the legendary President Paul Kagame, with whom I had very useful discussions on issues that resonate with me every day, especially on what is required for Africa to move forward,” Obi noted. “He remains committed to the management of scarce resources and serving the people faithfully, which deeply resonates with me.”
Peter Obi also spoke at “The Silver Gala,” organized by the Sherrie Silver Foundation. He expressed optimism for Africa’s future, saying, “While looking around the hall, I saw a continent on the rise, if only we could have the right leadership and invest in the entrepreneurial, innovative energy of our youths.”
Concluding his remarks, Obi stated, “Overall, my experience in Kigali has reinforced my belief that a new Nigeria is possible and that Africa, as a continent, is on the rise and unstoppable.”
Anthony Emeka Nwosu
