FROM POVERTY CENTRAL TO PROSPERITY: HOW OBIAGELI EZEKWESILI PRESIDENCY WILL LIFT 80+ million Nigerians out of poverty
The #NewNigeria Of OurDreams which we will build from 2019 will be measured on five planks of progress.
As your president, I shall daily focus my gaze on these five specific and measurable outcome indicators of development:
1. Rising standard of living driven by productivity, competence, the creation of jobs which we shall measure by real GDP per capita accompanied by the GNI coefficients to ensure lowest inequality levels. It is a pity that Singapore which got its independence five years after Nigeria now has a real GDP per capita of $57,722, while Nigeria’s GDP per capita as at 2017 was $1,951. The key plank shall be the lifting of 80 million Nigerians out of poverty through raising productivity and competitiveness of the economy.
2. Growing knowledge capital which we shall measure by adult literacy. Today, adult literacy in Singapore is 98%, while adult literacy in Nigeria is just 57%. Our emphasis on universal access to quality education, consistent with SDG4 at all levels and phases, will translate to a highest score of knowledge capital.
3. Increasing rate of longevity which we shall measure by life expectancy at birth. Today, Singapore’s life expectancy is 85 years, Nigeria’s life expectancy is a mere 52 years. Our agenda to overhaul the health system, ranging from community, secondary and tertiary health care, will have positive effects on Nigeria’s life expectancy.
4. Improving state of human security conditions which we shall measure by improving our scores on the Global Fragility Index. Today, we are the 14th most fragile country in the 2018 Fragile States Index by the Fund for Peace. This is beyond unacceptable.
5. Improving euality of rights and opportunities which we shall measure by the Universal Human Rights Index and the Freedom in the World Index. Today, we maintain a dismal aggregate score of 50/100 in the latter report.
