Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has attributed the persistent decay in Nigeria’s health institutions to chronic leadership failure.
Obi made the remark on Friday during an unannounced visit to students of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozala, in Enugu State.
The visit followed a letter Obi received from the faculty’s re-accreditation fundraising committee seeking financial support to meet requirements for accreditation. After confirming the authenticity of the request with university authorities, Obi chose to inspect the situation first-hand before responding.
In a show of support, Obi handed over a cheque of ₦15 million to the students through the fundraising committee chairman, Boston Chukwuemeka (Jnr), and the president of the University of Nigeria Dental Students Association, Comrade Daniel Ogba.
“I commend you for your resilience in studying under such poor conditions,” Obi told the students. “Leadership failure is the reason our institutions especially those in health are in such a terrible state.”
He recalled his own days as a student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and a visit by then-President Shehu Shagari who directly engaged with students about their needs. “Students are the ones who need the facilities, not the lecturers,” Obi said.
The former governor, who also attended global institutions such as Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge, said the dilapidated state of the UNTH contrasts sharply with what he experienced abroad. He described the hospital as one that had once produced world-class professionals but is now struggling due to neglect.
Obi also criticized government spending priorities, pointing out that ₦6 billion was recently allocated for a parking lot at the National Assembly, calling it a “misplaced priority” in a country grappling with a broken healthcare system.
“I didn’t even inform the provost I was coming because this visit is not about protocol, it’s about seeing reality,” he said. “As a proud Lion [UNN alumnus], I don’t need permission to return home.”
Obi promised to continue mobilizing support from well-meaning Nigerians to ensure the faculty achieves re-accreditation and that the students have access to better facilities.
His visit has sparked conversations online about the state of public healthcare and education in Nigeria, with many praising his gesture and candor.
