A strong Mimiko call urges Nigeria to boost public investment in health and education to drive sustainable development

Former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko said on Friday that the country risks prolonged stagnation unless leaders respond decisively to systemic failures in the health and education sectors.

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His urgent Mimiko call was delivered during the convocation lecture at the Confluence University of Science and Technology in Kogi State.

Speaking on the theme Ill health and Illiteracy: Siblings Alliance Against Development, he described Nigeria’s human development indicators as deeply troubling despite improved government revenues from recent fiscal reforms.

He praised ongoing policy efforts but stressed that current interventions must be intensified for meaningful impact.

Mimiko argued that renewed revenue from subsidy removal, exchange rate unification and upcoming tax reforms presents a rare moment for substantial investment in human capital.

He warned that without bold action, the alliance of ill health and illiteracy will continue to undermine growth.

Highlighting a powerful statistic, he noted that about forty percent of children under five suffer stunted growth due to malnutrition.

He proposed a revamped national school feeding programme anchored on a simple one egg, one child, one day model to improve nutrition and strengthen accountability.

The former governor also backed emerging industrial policies of the federal administration, saying deliberate public strategy rather than market forces alone is essential for national progress.

He maintained that improved revenues must translate into fair redistribution through increased funding for healthcare and education.

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Mimiko concluded that the Mimiko Call is straightforward. Nigeria must prioritise robust public investment to build a skilled, innovative population capable of driving sustainable development.