Indonesia’s Development Model: A Lesson for Nigeria – Peter Obi Speaks on Visit
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The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has shared his insightful experience from his recent trip to Indonesia, highlighting the country’s remarkable advancements in universal health coverage, education, and economic growth.
During his visit, Obi met with Indonesia’s Minister of Health, Mr. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, to discuss the country’s National Health Insurance Program (JKN), which covers about 98% of the population. 
Minister Sadikin emphasized the importance of preventive care, stating that it is the most effective public health strategy. The Indonesian government fully subsidizes premiums for low-income individuals and is expanding the training of primary health workers to ensure inclusive healthcare.
Obi also met with Prof. Dr. Nunuk Survani and her team at the Ministry of Education, where he learned about Indonesia’s educational system, which serves over 50 million pupils at the basic education level. With a strict implementation of its compulsory basic education policy, Indonesia has achieved a 99% school enrollment rate. The country allocates 20% of its annual budget to education, prioritizing this critical pillar of national development.
Furthermore, Obi noted that Indonesia has over 4,000 universities, while Nigeria has less than 10% of that number, despite having a population that is about 80% of Indonesia’s. Based on this ratio, Obi suggested that Nigeria should have at least 1,000 universities.
In addition, Obi met with officials from Indonesia’s Ministry of MSMEs, which provides extensive support for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses. These businesses contribute 61% to Indonesia’s GDP and employ 97% of the workforce. The ministry offers mentorship, training, equipment, and financial support, with a significant portion of bank loans dedicated to MSMEs at a favorable interest rate.
Obi concluded that Indonesia’s commitment to advancing healthcare, education, and economic growth makes it a learning model for developing nations. He emphasized that a new Nigeria is possible, and that the country can draw valuable lessons from Indonesia’s development model.
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