Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has gifted the sum of N50 million to Peter University and 10 million to the School of Nursing, Adazi-Nnukwu, respectively just he tasked them to pursue academic excellence.
Presenting the money at Peter University, located in Achina/Onneh, Obi hinted on the transformative power of quality education as a pillar of national development.
He urged students to pursue academic excellence, emphasising that an investment in education is an investment in the future.
He described education as the “most impactful tool for societal progress,” encouraging the students to see themselves as future leaders capable of driving positive change.
At the College of Nursing Sciences in Adazi-Nnukwu, Obi reechoed his dedication to supporting institutions that nurture skill, professionalism, and character.
Addressing the trend of skilled nurses emigrating for better opportunities, he advised those who choose to do so to return once the country is reformed, adding that he and like-minded individuals are committed to achieving this vision.
For those staying back, he expressed hope that they would ultimately use their talents to contribute to Nigeria’s progress.
In response, Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor, a key proprietor of both the university (with Peter Cardinal Okpaleke) and the Nursing College, thanked Obi for his steadfast commitment to education.
Eulogizing and calling him “Father of Education” in Anambra, he praised Obi’s pivotal role in transforming education in the state, notably through the return of schools to the church—a move that revitalised both infrastructure and academic standards.
“What is intriguing about Obi is that, he has sustained his support to institutions even after leaving office as governor,” a commitment that seems driven by a genuine passion for the uplift of society”, Ezeokafor said.
The Vice Chancellor of Peter University, Rev. Fr. Prof. Emmanuel Umezinwa, also thanked Obi for his continued support. He highlighted Obi’s contributions to the university, particularly his sponsorship of the entrepreneurship centre, which aims to equip students with practical skills for self-reliance and innovation.