Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, says inadequate investment in education has kept Nigeria underdeveloped.
Obi categorically stated that quality education is a propeller for sustainable development.
Mr Obi stated this during a visit to St. John Vienney Science College, Ukwulu, to felicitate students who won an International Science Competition in June 2025.
According to Mr Obi, there is no greater investment than the one in human capital and education sectors.
The former governor of Anambra State argued that the more the government invests in education, the faster the nation grows.
“If oil makes a country rich, Venezuela would have been the richest country in the world because they have ten times more oil than Nigeria and most countries of the world.
“But we could see that it is not about oil, it is about knowledge,” he stated.
Obi who presented a ten-million naira cheque to the school, commended them for conquering the world in the International Science Competition.
He encouraged the students to be focused and study hard as education will make them great and outstanding in life.
Mr Obi said Nigeria could not do much in building rails, power and other sectors because it has not invested in that which is important and critical to development.
“I thank Father Obimma. What he is doing here is what government is supposed to be doing and that is the problem with Nigeria.”
Pillar of education
In a remark the Proprietor of St. John Vienney Science College, Ukwulu, Reverend Father Emmanuel Obimma, thanked Mr Obi for the kind gesture.
He described him as a great pillar of education across the country.
“We thank God for people like his excellency, Peter Obi, who have been supporting with his philanthropic spirit.
“We leverage on their philanthropic gestures. I don’t have much but I believe in buying humanity.
“I am very happy that the vision is a reality. We are already doing well. We are success-oriented “
The students thanked Mr Obi for his love for education which is impossible to forget.
They noted that the encouragement from Mr Peter Obi will go a long way to encourage them to face the next competition which is slated for December 2025.
Students of St. John Vienney Science College, Ukwulu, Dunukofia local government area of Anambra state emerged the overall winner.
The beat counterparts from both Nigeria and the United Kingdom to clinch the coveted prize in which top-ranking schools from both countries participated in.
The competition, jointly organized by ‘Bring It On Africa and Debate Mate UK, was designed to foster cross-cultural dialogue and sharpen the critical thinking, oratory, and reasoning skills of students from both countries.
