Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has urged Nigerian leaders to prioritize education and the well-being of citizens, stressing that students must not be punished for the shortcomings of those in power.
In a statement posted Saturday on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi voiced deep concern over the plight of medical and dental students in state-owned universities, particularly highlighting disruptions that threaten their academic future through no fault of their own.
Obi wrote “During my visit to the Faculty of Dental Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), I received disturbing feedback about the situation at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), where ongoing issues around student graduation and induction quotas have raised serious alarm.”
He acknowledged the efforts of the UNICAL Vice Chancellor, who has reportedly assured stakeholders of efforts to resolve the crisis. Obi expressed hope for swift, effective action.
“Regardless of the cause, one thing remains certain: students should not suffer due to leadership failures. Education especially in critical areas like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) must be protected from administrative and institutional lapses,” he said.
Obi emphasized that STEM education is too crucial to national development to be undermined by bureaucratic bottlenecks. He called for urgent measures to ensure students are able to graduate on time without compromising educational standards.
Reflecting on his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, Obi recalled facing a similar challenge when the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria shut down the medical school at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University due to the absence of a teaching hospital.
“Students who had spent years studying medicine were suddenly told they could only graduate in other disciplines. I had just taken office, but I refused to let their futures be destroyed,” he said.
To resolve the issue, Obi appealed directly to the Council and committed to building a teaching hospital within two years a project he completed in under 18 months. The facility, now known as the Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital in Awka, ensured the school’s accreditation remained intact and that students could graduate as planned.
He called on the Federal Government to step in and provide both financial and institutional backing to help UNICAL leadership address the current crisis.
“The Vice Chancellor and her team need the resources and support to act quickly. No student should be penalized for circumstances beyond their control.”
Concluding, Obi issued a broader warning about the national neglect of education and healthcare, emphasizing that Nigeria cannot afford to keep diverting resources to less impactful sectors while vital areas continue to suffer.
“We must stop sacrificing the future of our children. Their dreams should not be casualties of poor governance,” Obi said.
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