The globally-acclaimed Foundation created and promoted by Pope Francis, the Scholas Ocurrentes Foundation, plans to come to Nigeria.

The Foundation, which focuses on transforming the youth through education and sports, and which was initiated by Pope Francis as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Bueno Aires, Argentina, is today working all over the world.

The Holy Father strongly believes that to make the world better, peaceful, and reduce inequality, we must invest in education and sports development for the youth.

In recognition of his passion for and commitment to education and youth development, respected Nigerian businessman and change agent, Mr Peter Obi, was invited by the leadership of the Foundation to its annual meeting, which took place last Friday, December 13, at the Vatican, to meet with the Pope, the Chairman of the Foundation (Jose Maria del Corall), and other Directors to enable him witness what the Foundation is doing in various parts of the world, with the intention of working with him to bring the Foundation to Nigeria.

Also on the entourage were five First Ladies from Latin America countries, namely, those of Belize, Kim Simplis Barrow; Columbia, Maria Juliana Ruiz Sandoval; Paraguay, Silvana Lopez Moreira; Argentina, Juliana Awada; and Brazil, Michelle de Paula Firmo Reinaldo Bolsinaro. They came with youths from their countries who are already benefiting from the work of the Foundation. Also in attendance were renowned artistes, writers, and sports men and women.

Speaking to the press on his return to Nigeria, Obi said that the Holy Father and the leadership of the Foundation were very interested in supporting education and sports in Nigeria.

He also said that there would be further meetings with managers of the Foundation to conclude modalities for its operation in Nigeria.

The greatest asset of any nation, Obi reiterated, is its people, adding that the most important key for unlocking this asset is education, while emphasising that Nigeria must aggressively invest in the education of her youths as to have a better future.

“Our underdevelopment and the various problems we are going through today are the cumulative effect of poor leadership that did not adequately invest in education yesterday,” he said.

News Express reports that in the 2000/2001 academic session, schools were closed down in Anambra State, which led to the state being at the bottom in external examinations.

However, Obi as the State Governor, instituted and pursued policies which saw education being given the highest priority. As a result, the state regained its prominence and in 2011, 2012 and 2013 was the number one in external examinations.

•PHOTO: The Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, Mr. Peter Obi (left), with His Holiness, Pope Francis (right) during their meeting at the Vatican last Friday, December 13, 2019

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