Posted on: Sat 26-07-2025

In a powerful move that’s sparking national conversation, former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has donated 15 million to the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)—a response to what he described as a “tragedy of misplaced priorities” in Nigeria’s healthcare and education sectors.

Obi made the donation during an unscheduled visit to the institution on Friday, July 18, after receiving a heartfelt appeal from the faculty’s re-accreditation fundraising committee. The committee had requested 40 million to upgrade their laboratory and increase the department’s graduation and induction quota—critical steps in securing re-accreditation.

“We cannot, in good conscience, continue to allow our young people to suffer due to leadership failure,” Obi stated during his visit.

He emphasized that the donation was delayed out of respect for the national mourning period following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Now, with mourning concluded, Obi said it was time to act.

The 15 million donation is aimed at supporting the University of Nigeria Dental Students Association, helping them continue their education amid infrastructural decay and underfunding. Obi also pledged to rally other well-meaning Nigerians to support the faculty.

“Our leaders spend millions on luxury cars while ignoring critical sectors like health and education. It’s a national tragedy,” he lamented on his official X (formerly Twitter) page.

This isn’t Obi’s first major educational intervention. In the same week, he donated 5 million and a bus to the Grimard School of Nursing Science in Kogi State, fulfilling a promise made during a previous visit.

His actions are reigniting debates about the state of Nigeria’s medical education system and the urgent need for reform.

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