Former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili has said that Nigeria’s status as a third world country, is as a result of the lack of dignity inherent in the country’s leaders.

Speaking as a keynote speaker at Professor Pat Utomi’s book presentation at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs on Thursday, February 4, the former minister wondered why a country like Nigeria with so many resources at its disposal, would still be battling poverty.

Ezekwesili stated that even though Nigerians are facing poverty from lack of money and other basic necessities, the more critical poverty to be bothered about- is the poverty from an apparent lack of dignity.

“The poverty of money is not as critical as the poverty of dignity. It is the poverty of dignity that translates itself into the poor quality of governance.”

She further stressed that the absence of dignity in public office holders has caused the many sufferings of the Nigerian society to persist.

Ezekwesili noted that the nation has grown in the last two decades in numerous ways, yet the growth is not reflected on the people because the country’s leaders have chosen to divert funds meant for the masses to private coffers.

Furthermore, the co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, opined that any leader with self dignity would want to focus more on making things better in the society instead of looking for how to further enrich himself.

“The failure of governance is a broader concept than the mere issue of corruption. It is manifested in the pattern of choices that have been made over time by people in power.

“The poverty of choice of those that have governed the country over a period of time is the reason we don’t have strong institutions, good infrastructures and people are living below the poverty line.”

The former minister added that the problems plaguing the country do not defy technical solutions but are only a function of the failure of government.

She finished with an admonishment to all and sundry to first of all seek dignity and then integrity would not be so hard, affirming that one who is lacking of dignity would rather place themselves over the society when in power.

Ezekwesili also canvassed for education to be given top priority in the quest for development in the country.

Adebayo Emuleomo