Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has donated ₦15 million to the Dental Students Association of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), to support the upgrade of the university’s dental laboratory and aid the department’s re-accreditation efforts.
Obi made a donation during a recent visit to the institution, responding to a formal appeal from the association, which had sought ₦40 million to boost the department’s graduation and induction quota.
Explaining the timing of his visit, Obi noted that it was postponed out of respect for the national mourning declared following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“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 aimed at the country’s leadership, decrying what he described as systemic failure in prioritizing essential sectors. “We cannot, in good conscience, continue to allow our young people to suffer due to leadership failure,” he said.
Reaffirming his commitment to national development, Obi stated: “As part of my unwavering commitment to advancing education and healthcare in our dear nation, I made a modest donation of ₦15 million to the University of Nigeria Dental Students Association to assist in their continuous education.”
He also criticized the culture of excessive government spending on luxuries at the expense of critical development areas.
“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.
Obi warned that the consistent underfunding of education and healthcare 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,” he added.
He concluded with a call for transformational leadership, declaring, “A New Nigeria is POssible.”
