Peter Obi Decries Leadership Failure in Education Sector, Donates ₦20m to Boost Unical Dental Faculty
By Ekanem Asuquo Calabar
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has described the situation at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Calabar (UNICAL), as a glaring case of leadership failure in Nigeria’s education sector.
Obi made the remarks in Calabar while addressing affected students of the institution. During the visit, he announced a personal donation of ₦20 million to support the upgrade of critical infrastructure in the faculty.
He said the visit was aimed at drawing national attention to the plight of dental students whose academic journey has been severely hampered by inadequate facilities—conditions that have led the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to withhold full accreditation and limit the university’s admission quota to just 10 students per session.
“The situation in UNICAL is a direct reflection of failed leadership. We cannot continue to allow our children to bear the brunt of our political blunders,” Obi stated.
“We spend millions on luxury for political office holders, yet young Nigerians pursuing education lack the most basic tools. It shouldn’t be so.”
To help bridge the gap, Obi donated ₦20 million to aid the procurement of 15 additional dental chairs, a key requirement set by the MDCN for expanding the faculty’s student intake.
“This gesture is not just about money,” he explained. “It’s a call to conscience. We must begin to invest in people, education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation. Governance is not about personal aggrandizement—it is about service to the people.”
The former Anambra State governor stressed the urgent need to shift focus from endless politicking to genuine governance, urging public officials to prioritize human capital development.
“Let us stop discussing politics daily and begin to discuss governance and the welfare of our people. We must dismantle the barriers of insensitivity and invest in critical sectors of development.
“2027 will come, and I will be there. But today, my concern is how the average Nigerian can put food on the table and access quality education and healthcare,” he added.
Obi called on other well-meaning Nigerians and leaders to support institutions like UNICAL, insisting that the future of the country depends on how well its citizens are educated and empowered.
“This is not about politics. This is about our children, our future, and the soul of our nation,” he concluded.
