Former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has returned to public engagements after taking a short medical rest that forced him to suspend scheduled appearances over the weekend.
Obi announced the break on Saturday via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, disclosing that he had fallen ill while attending a tourism event in Enugu the previous day.
Following medical advice, he paused all engagements within and outside Nigeria to recuperate.
On Monday, Obi resumed activities by fulfilling a long-standing promise to visit an SME he had previously encountered during his travels.
He used the visit to highlight the vital role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving Nigeria’s economic growth.
He noted that the business, MDH, already provides jobs for over 50 young Nigerians directly and indirectly, stressing that with the right investment climate and government support, it could scale up significantly.
Drawing comparisons with Bangladesh—where the textile industry accounts for more than 70% of exports and generates over $50 billion annually—Obi lamented the collapse of Nigeria’s once-thriving textile sector.
“Our textile sector has regrettably collapsed and now contributes very little to the national economy. This shows how much untapped potential lies within our borders,” he said.
Reiterating his consistent call for a shift from a consumption-driven economy to one anchored on local production, Obi underscored the transformative power of SMEs.
“Investing in small businesses is key to lifting millions out of poverty and positioning Nigeria as a global player in creativity and trade,” he added.
