Mr. Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, gave N50 million to the University on the Niger (UNINIGER) in Umunya, Anambra State, on Thursday.
Additionally, he gave the School of Nursing at Iyienu Mission Hospital in Ogidi an extra N10 million.
Obi said the gesture was a part of his continued commitment to investing in vital sectors that propel development while speaking at the institution’s launch campus in Iyi-Enu.
He maintained that funding initiatives in the fields of health, education, and poverty alleviation was an investment in vital sectors that propel sustainable development rather than just spending.
“There have been numerous grave repercussions as a result of our health and education sectors’ ongoing extreme neglect and lack of government attention,” he said.
Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, outlined the particular difficulties facing the health sector, stating that “it is burdened not only by funding gaps and infrastructure deficits but also by significant shortage of healthcare professionals across the country.”
“We currently have a scarcity of physicians and nurses, well below what the WHO recommends. More aggressive national investments in healthcare professional training are the answer to this pressing shortfall.
“Investments like these form the foundation of future developmental strides,” he stated.
Speaking to the students, Obi, who was joined by Professor Stella Okunna, urged them to be dedicated to their education and moral growth, emphasizing that the worth of their credentials hinged on both academic and personal achievement.
Bishop Owen Nwokolo, the Anglican bishop in charge of the schools, recounted how Obi brought education back to life in the state by relocating schools back to the Church and providing assistance for them afterward.
He thanked Mr. Obi and praised his commitment to improving important sectors including empowerment, healthcare, and education.
Prof. Nebo, the school’s vice chancellor, said Obi is a man who recognizes the value of education and has kept up his admirable efforts in that direction.
“Obi’s devotion to education during his tenure as governor awakened the entire South East to pay attention to education, which has led the Eastern states to rank among the best in the nation,” he said.
