Ozoro Festival: Peter Obi Calls Out Nigeria for Neglecting Women Development

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has raised fresh concerns over what he described as Nigeria’s poor commitment to women development.

He made the remarks while reacting to recent happenings linked to the Ozoro festival in Delta State, stressing that the country must rethink its priorities.

In a statement shared on X on Saturday, titled “Channelling Our Women to Critical Areas of Development,” Obi said Nigeria is falling behind other nations that are deliberately investing in women as a key driver of growth.

He warned that neglecting women’s potential would continue to slow down national progress.

“While the rest of the nations of the world are investing in critical areas of development such as human capital, we lag behind. Instead of ensuring that our women, the vital segment of our population, are educated and meaningfully integrated into leadership and management structures, where they have consistently proven to contribute significantly to development, we fall short.

“This is evident in countries like the Scandinavian nations and even in developing economies. In Indonesia, for instance, women own over 50% of SMEs, which provide about 98% of jobs. Similarly, in Bangladesh, women make up about 60% of the workforce in the garment industry, the country’s largest export sector, generating about $50 billion—far more than what Nigeria earns annually from crude oil exports,” Obi said.

His comments come amid public outrage over disturbing reports from Ozoro, a community in Delta State, where viral videos allegedly showed women being harassed and assaulted during a local festival.

The incident has sparked debates across the country, with many calling for accountability and better protection for women.

Obi noted that countries that have made real economic progress have done so by deliberately empowering women and integrating them into productive sectors. He pointed out that women are not just contributors but major drivers of economic expansion in many parts of the world.

He said Nigeria has failed to replicate such success despite women making up a significant portion of the population.

According to him, the country must move beyond rhetoric and begin to implement policies that support women’s education, entrepreneurship, and participation in leadership.

The former governor of Anambra State also criticised what he described as misplaced national priorities. He warned that focusing on activities that do not add real value to development would continue to hold the country back.

Obi urged leaders at all levels to invest in human capital development. He insisted that empowering women and giving them access to opportunities in key sectors would help rebuild the economy and restore national pride.