Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last election, on Tuesday visited two institutions in Enugu State, where he made a total donation of ₦40 million towards the advancement of education and healthcare.
Obi’s first point of call was at the Godfrey Okoye University School of Nursing, where he was warmly received by the management, staff, and students.
While expressing admiration for their dedication to the training of healthcare professionals, he donated ₦20 million to support the development of the university’s College of Nursing Sciences.
Speaking to the students, Obi noted that the world is projected to face a shortage of over 30 million nurses by 2030, placing them in a position of global relevance.
“There is a huge demand for nurses,” he said.
“Nigeria alone needs about 1.2 million nurses, yet fewer than 200,000 are currently registered. Village and community hospitals are struggling due to this shortage. You are studying a very critical discipline, and both your country and the world will need you.”
The Proprietor of Godfrey Okoye University, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, thanked Obi for the visit and generous support.
He prayed that God would continue to guide and strengthen him in his efforts to uplift society, noting that Obi’s commitment to education is both exemplary and timely.
The former governor of Anambra State then proceeded to Ihuokpara Community in Nkanu East Local Government Area, where the Anglican Bishop of Enugu, Bishop Sam Ike (Prof.), is leading the construction of a Community Health Centre.
Commending the Church’s proactive involvement in community health, Obi committed another ₦20 million to support the project.
The Proprietor of the Diocesan Health Projects, Bishop Prof. Stan Ike, expressed deep appreciation for Obi’s visit and support.
He commended his consistency in making the needs of the people a priority and prayed for God’s continued blessings upon his life and endeavours.
In his address, Obi reiterated that education and healthcare remain the two most strategic investments any society can make.
He called them key indicators of human development and vital instruments for lifting people out of poverty.
“These are the primary responsibilities of government,” Obi said. “Unfortunately, the failure of governance has made it necessary for individuals and faith-based organisations to step in. I continue to support churches because they are doing what governments ought to be doing.”
He referenced recent statistics from the World Bank and UNICEF, which paint a grim picture of the country’s poverty and health indices. According to him, rural poverty in Nigeria has now risen to 75%, and child malnutrition and infant mortality have surpassed levels seen in much larger nations like India.
On criticism for his repeated emphasis on Nigeria’s poverty levels, Obi stated: “I’m not the one insisting on it – it’s the reality. The World Bank and UNICEF are saying it. Go to your village and ask if people are rich or poor. We can all see it. The challenge is for us to make the necessary sacrifices to pull people out of poverty.”
He added that what he is doing is not political, but a moral obligation to promote development and equity. “If we want Nigeria to work, we must dismantle the structure of criminality that defines our current governance,” he asserted.
Obi encouraged the Nursing students and all young Nigerians to remain focused, assuring them that their hard work would not be in vain.
“Let us all, in our respective capacities, continue to invest in the future of our nation,” he concluded.
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