Peter Obi, former governor of Light of the Nation (Anambra) and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has extended financial support to dental students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), while expressing deep concern over Nigeria’s leadership choices and resource allocation.
Obi, who made this known in a statement released after the national mourning period for former President Muhammadu Buhari, said he was responding to an appeal from the UNN Dental Students Association for urgent support to upgrade their laboratory facilities as part of their re-accreditation requirements.
“Earlier this week, I received a letter from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Dental Students Association, appealing for urgent intervention and support of about ₦40,000,000 to upgrade their laboratory and scale up the department’s graduation and induction quota as part of their re-accreditation process,” Obi stated.
In response to the appeal, he visited the institution and made a personal donation of ₦15 million to support the students’ academic needs.
“As part of my unwavering commitment to advancing education and healthcare in our dear nation, I made a modest donation of ₦15,000,000 to the University of Nigeria Dental Students Association to assist in their continuous education as students of the medical and dental department of the school,” he said.
Obi, visibly disturbed by the condition of learning in Nigerian institutions, took a swipe at those in government whom he accused of squandering public funds on non-essential luxuries while abandoning core sectors.
“I continue to question the kind of country we are building, where our leaders and public servants spend millions on luxury cars and ignore critical areas of development, health, education, and pulling people out of poverty. It is a tragedy of misplaced priorities,” he said.
He warned that the failure to give proper attention to health, education, and poverty reduction projects poses a grave risk to national development.
“When we fail to prioritise education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation, but invest billions in conference centres and bus parks, we betray our youth and undermine the future of our dear nation. We must invest in the future of the Nigerian youth,” Obi added.
He ended his message with his signature vision: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”
