Peter Obi Donates ₦15m to UNN Dental Students

Former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has donated the sum of ₦15 million to the Dental Students Association of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as part of efforts to support the upgrade of the institution’s dental laboratory and assist with its re-accreditation process.

Obi made the donation during a visit to the university, following an appeal letter he received earlier in the week from the association requesting urgent intervention and support of about ₦40 million to scale up the department’s graduation and induction quota.

According to Obi, his visit was delayed out of respect for the period of national mourning declared in honour of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away last week. “Out of respect for the national mourning following the passing of our former President, I refrained from making any public statements during that period. Now that the mourning has officially ended, I felt it was important to act without delay,” he said.

While presenting the donation, Obi condemned what he described as a pattern of “leadership failure” that has continued to deprive young Nigerians of access to quality education and healthcare. “We cannot, in good conscience, continue to allow our young people to suffer due to leadership failure,” he said.

He reiterated his long-standing commitment to education and healthcare development, stating that his modest support for the dental students aligns with his broader vision for national development. “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 also used the opportunity to criticise the extravagant spending patterns of government officials, contrasting them with the underfunding of critical 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 stated.

He further warned that ignoring investments in education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation while funnelling billions into nonessential projects amounts to a betrayal of the nation’s future. “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,” he said.

Mr. Obi concluded his remarks with a renewed call for national transformation, declaring, “A New Nigeria is POssible.”