Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has revealed the reasons behind his significant donation of over N200 million within a single week to support education across Nigeria. He emphasized that his contribution was motivated by his desire to secure a better future for the younger generation and reduce crime through education.
Obi made this statement during the 70th Anniversary celebration of Queen’s School, Enugu, an event organized by the Queen’s School Old Girls Association, held on Saturday.
“In the past week, I have been to several institutions to support their educational initiatives,” Obi said during his speech. “On Monday, I was in Onitsha, where a new university was inaugurated. From there, I went to Borromeo College of Nursing. On Tuesday, I visited students in Anyigba, Kogi State, and by Thursday, I was at an Almajiri School in Kaduna to address their needs.”
Through these visits, Obi donated over N200 million, all geared towards improving education. He underscored the critical importance of education for national development, stating that no country could thrive without it.
“My investment in education is a way of providing for the future and preventing crime among the younger generation,” he said, adding that a country’s success is directly linked to its investments in education and healthcare. Obi also pointed out that Nigeria must focus on improving educational standards, calling for greater emphasis on rebuilding schools rather than constructing new ones.
Obi’s commitment to education was further highlighted when he expressed his disappointment over the current state of Queen’s School, Enugu. Once a celebrated institution that produced many notable figures, the school has suffered from years of neglect. “Those of you who studied here must be wondering how things got so bad,” Obi remarked. “This school, once celebrated, has unfortunately lost its glory. We must all come together and pool our resources to restore its former greatness.”
He pledged to collaborate with the Queen’s School Old Girls Association to give the institution a much-needed facelift and urged others to join the cause of rehabilitating old schools.
Revitalizing Queen’s School, Enugu.
Earlier in the event, the National President of the Queen’s School Old Girls Association, Ifeanyi Egbunike, also highlighted the challenges the school currently faces. She pointed out the lack of new structures and other pressing needs that have led to the school’s decline.
“I graduated from this school in 1974, and today, we are marking 70 years of its existence,” Egbunike said. “Queen’s School has produced many successful individuals, and we selected Peter Obi for this event because he is a man of vision, driven by results, and passionate about education.”
The chairperson of the Enugu Chapter of the association, Maureen Atuonwu, revealed that alumni from all over the world came together to celebrate the school’s anniversary. She further stressed that the Old Girls Association is working in partnership with the Enugu State Government to rebuild the institution.
“Queen’s School has produced many professionals who have excelled in their fields, including prominent figures like Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,” Atuonwu said. She called for a united effort to elevate the school and restore its place as a beacon of educational excellence.
Established on October 4, 1954, by the defunct Government of Eastern Nigeria, Queen’s School Enugu remains a symbol of academic excellence in Nigeria. The recent anniversary celebration serves as a reminder of the urgent need to restore its glory and ensure its future success.
