… Promises Renovation of Fire Ravaged School
By Ikeugonna Eleke and Alexander Johnson Adejoh
Former Anambra State Governor and Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in 2023, Mr Peter Obi, Wednesday, donated N15 million to the College of Nursing, Adazi Nnukwu, saying it is part of his commitment to uplifting humanity
Obi who used the occasion to explain why he always donating to educational and health institutions, said he had dedicated his life to one of purpose which was to uplift humanity.
He said: ‘I believe that life must have a purpose and my own purpose is to give support to people as a way to uplift humanity. I go around Nigeria supporting schools because it is critical for us. The number one measurement indices of life in the world today is life expectancy. We need to invest in health and nurses are the human capital we need for this investment. ‘That is why I’m going about and making donations in my own little way. Today, life expectancy in Nigeria is 54, and that is among the least you can find anywhere in the world.’
Obi praised the Proprietor of the College, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, saying he was among the first people he approached when he became Governor to help get accreditation for such colleges.
‘The Bishop has done much in this school. When I became Governor in 2006, no single School of Nursing, Medical Laboratory of Midwifery College, was accredited. So I approached the Church and begged them to help us in this area and we supported them, and today this place is very big.’
The College of Nursing, Adazi Nnukwu, now offers BNSc, and is grateful for Obi’s support. The Acting Provost of the College, Mrs Ezenwuba Mary-Michael Eziolu, represented by Mrs Okafor Chibugo, Acting HOD, Midwifery, thanked Obi for his continuous zeal to donate to colleges.
She said: ‘Your visit is a boost to us and will spur us in our activities and will inspire us to dedication and hard work, just as the students too. Thank you for always having our college in mind with your donations.’
Obi also visited Practising Nursery and Primary School in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area, which was razed by fire in December 2024. The Headmistress of the school, Comrade Eucharia Egwuonwu, who received Obi, lamented that the school had been abandoned since after the fire incident, leaving children studying under harsh weather without roofs. She said a lot of parents had withdrawn their children from the school as a result of the incident.
Obi promised to facilitate the rebuilding of the school, saying work would commence in January 2026 so as to give the children a befitting place to learn from.
The event was graced by Most Rev. Paulinus C. Ezeokafor, Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese; Very Rev. Fr. Charles Ndubisi, Awka Diocesan Chancellor; Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Anike, the Vicar, Adazi Episcopal Region; Rev. Fr. Jude Igboka, the College Administrator; Rev. Fr. Kenneth Okafor, the Administrator, St. Joseph’s Hospital; Rev. Fr. Mark Obiorah Ikeh, Director, Fides Media; Rev. Fr. Aloysius Emeka, Deputy Administrator, St. Joseph’s Hospital; and Very Rev. Fr. Dr Nicholas Okekeocha, Parish Priest, St. Theresa’s, Agulu.
Rev. Fr. Jude Igboka, the College Administrator, who was also present at the event and witnessed Obi’s donation, thanked the former Governor of Anambra State, while pledging the College’s commitment to education and development of the health workers.
For his part, Bishop Ezeokafor thanked Mr Peter Obi for his continuous support to schools, noting that only God could reward the donor.
