By ANTHONY EMEKA NWOSU
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has emphasized the importance of learning from global experiences to drive Nigeria’s economic and social renewal, following a series of high-level engagements in the United States and Indonesia.
In a statement titled “Turning Nigeria Around: Insights from Global Engagements”, Obi described his recent three-day trip to the United States as “defining and enriching.” The highlight of the visit was a two-hour lunch and walk meeting with renowned economist and Nobel Laureate, Professor James Robinson, co-author of the influential book “Why Nations Fail.” The meeting was also attended by Professors Korieh and Pat Utomi.
Obi said he was deeply struck by Professor Robinson’s observation that “some nations know the path to prosperity yet consistently fail to take it,” citing Nigeria as a prime example. “That remark was not just academic but a mirror held up to our nation,” Obi stated. “Professor Robinson reminded me that nations must possess the humility to remain learners if they are to advance.”

Earlier in the year, Obi visited Johns Hopkins University to meet with Professor Peter M. Lewis, author of “Growing Apart: Oil, Politics, and Economic Change in Indonesia and Nigeria.” According to Obi, the comparative study of the two nations—both once on similar development trajectories—raises fundamental questions about why Nigeria has struggled where Indonesia progressed.
In his quest for solutions, Obi travelled to Indonesia, where he held talks with six ministers, a former vice president, and the country’s popular president, Joko Widodo. These engagements, Obi said, reinforced his belief that Nigeria can still achieve meaningful reforms.
“Such encounters with some of the finest minds and experienced leaders across continents deepen my conviction that Nigeria’s story is not a closed chapter of decline but an unfinished narrative with the potential for redemption,” Obi remarked.
He stressed that Nigeria’s transformation would require “competent and visionary leadership—rooted in capacity, character, commitment, and compassion.”
Concluding his statement, Obi reiterated his optimism: “A new Nigeria is possible.”
