The wealth and poverty of a nation: Who will restore the dignity of Nigeria? By Oby Ezekwesili

I FOUND THIS SPEECH GIVEN BY THE FORMER ECONOMIC ADVISER AND MINISTER DURING THE OBASANJO GOVERNMENT AND THOUGH I WILL SHARE IT ON HERE…REALLY THOUGH PROVOKING AND INSIGHTFUL READ..

I am hugely delighted to return to my alma mater the great and only University of Nigeria to speak at your 42nd convocation. Twenty eight years ago I sat just like you those of you who are part of the graduating Class of 2013; excited by my graduation. It was 1985 and I was very privileged to be one of the then only 3% of our own youthful population that had the opportunity of a university education. Today, you are still fortunate to be one of the yet paltry 4.3% of your own youthful generation with an opportunity for university education. For Nigeria that percentage does not compare favorably with 37.5% for Chile 33.7%