Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, on Monday made an unannounced visit to Dominican University, Ibadan, where he donated ₦30 million to the institution and challenged Nigerian youths to take decisive responsibility for their future and that of the country.
Obi, who has served as Pro-Chancellor of the university for nearly ten years, arrived at the Samonda Campus while students were preparing for their examinations, describing the visit as a wake-up call for young Nigerians on the urgency of national rebirth.
Addressing students and staff, the former Anambra State governor lamented that Nigeria remains among the world’s hungriest nations despite having about 60 per cent of its arable land uncultivated. He said the country’s crisis is not rooted in the absence of resources but in the shortage of competent, capable and compassionate leadership.
According to him, the era of depending on globalization has waned, as nations are now being encouraged to look inward and build from the grassroots.
Obi urged students to see agriculture as Nigeria’s “new oil,” citing the Netherlands—roughly the size of Niger State—which reportedly exports over $130 billion worth of agricultural products annually, far exceeding Nigeria’s oil revenue. He also compared Nigeria’s vast Sambisa axis with Israel, a much smaller country that exports food despite its limited landmass.
“Development does not come with tribe; it comes with knowledge,” Obi said, stressing that only competent leadership can convert Nigeria’s abundant resources into prosperity.
The visit generated excitement across the campus, with CEO Africa media team present to capture reactions from students and staff.
A student, Segun, said seeing Peter Obi during the tense examination period provided a strong mental boost and renewed his determination to strive for academic excellence.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Jacinta A. Opara, expressed deep appreciation for the ₦30 million donation, noting that it followed an earlier ₦50 million contribution by Obi. She said the gesture and visit had greatly lifted the morale of the university community and reinforced the institution’s commitment to academic and moral excellence.
When asked about the 2027 general elections and how credible polls could be ensured, Obi told the students that the responsibility rests largely with them.
“It is you that will protect your vote, not me. It is your country, but it is your future that is at stake,” he said.
He further called for a shift from a consumption-driven culture to a production-oriented mindset, insisting that the emergence of a “New Nigeria” must begin from the classroom.
Several students and staff described the visit as historic and inspiring. Mr. Cosmos Akobundu, a 400-level Philosophy student, said he was excited to learn that Obi studied philosophy in his first degree, adding that the interaction had reshaped his perception of Nigeria’s collective future.
Similarly, Winifred Ogwu, a 200-level Mass Communication student, told CEOAFRICA that Obi’s words had motivated her to intensify her studies, knowing she has a role to play in shaping the nation’s future.
Another student, Jacinta Nwachukwu Nelson, a 400-level Mass Communication undergraduate, said she learned that hard work is a practical way of taking control of one’s destiny.
On the part of the faculty, Fr. Dr. Augustine Agwulonu, OP, described Obi as a leader who demonstrates responsibility through humility, noting that the unannounced visit was a pleasant and timely encouragement for students at the start of their examinations.
Fr. Dr. Emmanuel Ogu, OP, a university leadership expert, said the visit symbolised responsibility and humility, while Fr. Francis Chiadi, OP, Provincial Promoter of the Dominican Family, Dominican Province of St. Joseph the Worker (Nigeria and Ghana), described the engagement as a catalyst for deepening a culture of excellence among young people.
