Former Labour Party presidential candidate and prominent voice in Nigeria’s emerging opposition coalition, Mr. Peter Obi, has reiterated that a nation’s greatest asset lies in its investment in education rather than natural resources.
He emphasized this belief during a visit to St. John Vianney Science College in Ukwulu, where he celebrated the school’s recent triumph at the inaugural UK-Nigeria Debate Championship—an event that saw them outperform top secondary schools from both countries.
Praising the students and faculty for their outstanding achievement, Obi described the victory as a beacon of national pride and a testament to the limitless potential of Nigerian youth when equipped with the right educational support.
To further empower the institution, he donated ₦10 million towards its infrastructural development.
“A sound learning environment remains essential if our children are to compete globally,” Obi said. “Their achievement brought pride not only to Anambra State but to all of Nigeria.”
He urged the students to stay dedicated and view their achievements as a shared victory for all young Nigerians, emphasizing that the nation’s future lies in their hands.
Obi further commended the school’s proprietor, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma (Fr. Ebube Muonso), for his inspirational leadership and unwavering commitment to academic distinction and moral integrity.
“What Fr. Obimma is doing is exactly what the government should be doing,” Obi said. “But sadly, Nigeria’s government has failed to prioritize education and other critical areas of development. Instead, resources are being wasted on frivolous displays of wealth.”
After touring the school, Obi told reporters that Nigeria’s underdevelopment is rooted in insufficient investment in education, rather than any shortage of natural resources.
“If oil made a country rich, Venezuela would be the richest country in the world,” he said. “Nigeria is underdeveloped because we don’t invest in the driver of development—education.”
He emphasized that meaningful national progress hinges on intentional and sustained investment in education—an essential foundation for nurturing human capital and sparking innovation.
Obi, who revealed that he makes it a point to visit at least one school daily, explained that his commitment to engaging with educational institutions stems from his conviction that “building humanity through education is the fastest way to transform society.”
“I will be in another school on Monday and yet another on Tuesday,” he said. “If your life is not spent building others, then it’s a wasted effort.”
Amid mounting public scrutiny over government spending choices and renewed appeals for greater investment in education, the former governor of Anambra State has weighed in with pointed remarks.
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