NDC Presidential Candidate Peter Obi Marks 65th Birthday with ₦10m Hospital Donation, Calls for Service to Humanity

The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), Peter Obi, on Sunday marked his 65th birthday with a call for selfless service, national reflection and greater investment in healthcare and education, saying birthdays should be occasions for thanksgiving and giving back to society rather than extravagant celebrations.

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In a personally signed message titled “Reflections on My 65th Birthday,” Obi said attaining the age of 65 had provided an opportunity to reflect on God’s grace, the journey of his life and how his remaining years could be devoted more meaningfully to the service of God and humanity.

According to him, while birthdays in countries with functional institutions and better living standards may warrant elaborate celebrations, Nigeria’s socio-economic realities demand a more sober approach.

“Our nation is blessed with enormous human and natural resources, yet millions of our people continue to struggle with challenges that demand our collective attention. We cannot afford to celebrate ourselves excessively while many around us are burdened by poverty, ill health, unemployment and limited opportunities,” he said.

Obi noted that birthdays should inspire gratitude, reflection and a renewed commitment to improving the lives of others.

“The greatest celebration of life is not what we receive from others, but the lives we can touch positively,” he stated.

The former Anambra State governor said the philosophy had guided him throughout his career in business, the corporate world and public service, where he viewed every position of privilege as an opportunity to impact lives rather than a personal entitlement.

He recalled encouraging friends and well-wishers over the years to redirect funds meant for lavish birthday celebrations and expensive gifts towards projects with lasting social impact, including the construction of schools, hostel blocks and other educational facilities.

“The greatest honour anyone can receive is not found in gifts, ceremonies or public admiration, but in knowing that one’s life has contributed, however modestly, to making another person’s life better,” he added.

To commemorate his birthday, Obi said he began the day with a Mass of Thanksgiving in Onitsha, expressing gratitude to God for His protection, guidance and blessings over the years.

He later visited St. Raphael’s Hospital, Umueri, in Anambra East Local Government Area, where he donated ₦10 million to support the hospital’s efforts in providing quality healthcare to residents.

Reflecting on his visit to the hospital, Obi said seeing patients in vulnerable conditions reinforced his belief that leadership is fundamentally about caring for people, especially those who are unable to repay acts of kindness.

He stressed that investments in healthcare and education remain the most enduring contributions any society can make.

“Hospitals and schools remain two of the greatest investments any society can make. A hospital preserves life; a school shapes the future. Supporting both is, therefore, not just an act of charity—it is an investment in humanity and in the future of our nation,” Obi said.