Former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili has said that Nigeria as a whole has been broken politically, socially, economically, mentally and psychologically but it is still governable.

Speaking at the 10th anniversary symposium and special awards of Spectrum Broadcasting Ltd, the host of Hot FM in Abuja, the former minister of Education called on the incoming government of Muhammudu Buhari to realize that a Nigeria they are inheriting is in need of complete change.

Presenting her topic as the lead speaker on “Change Nigerians Expect”, she said, Nigeria has  to invest on human resources to help build creators and innovators of economic wealth which can help the nation to be competitive in the global world.

She said, “If the incoming president does not realize that a Nigeria today that is being inherited for governance is a Nigeria that is broken politically, socially, economically, mentally and psychologically. Broken in every sense of the word but not gone.

“We need a society that need to completely change not just the past but entirely envisage a new vision, a future that brings in those who are outside of the benefit of the development process,”

The Bring back Our Girls Campainger said Nigeria needs to “replaces the current fixation with natural resources, great economic development strategy with human capital based economic development strategy.”

She said when this happens citizens will become an important of the nation’s growth as investing in citizens “will make them become the creator innovator and producer of economic productivity.”

She continued, “Today the things that will support that kind of investment in the citizen who is currently outside the benefit of the economic growth would include the right kind of education and skills building, this would mean that we will look at the average Nigerian young person who constitutes more than 50% of our population as of more premium than oil.

“When our citizens are considered to be of more premium than oil, it would necessitate radical change in the combination of policies of institutions and of investments that we will make in order to support the process of their emergence to global competitive citizens of the world. For our competition is not Niger neither is it cote d ivore, the competition of our country is that of other citizens of the world.

“So sound policies, effective and efficient investment in human and capital development of educational health is needed, investment in critical infrastructure that will be need in order to support low cost production in the environment for those citizens, Investment in critical institutions to make them vibrant to make them reliable underpinned by the rule of law so that predictably, the basic factor that determine how people respond to society’s incentive and sanctions will be appropriately celebrated in our society.”

At the ceremony, Ezekwesili was awarded alongside other politicians like Senate President, David Mark, Kano state Government, Rabiu Kwankwoso, Oby Ezekwesili, and the Nigerian Arm forces “for their exceptional leadership and service to the nation.”

Recently Oby was involved in a war of words with  Gen Chris Olukolade, the Defence Headquarters spokesperson.

Chris Olukolade, the Defence Headquarters spokesperson, described the attacks of the former education minister as “uncharitable” and “discouraging”.

Ezekwesili replied to the criticism by the Nigerian military accusing her of engaging in hate campaign against the army.