Peter Obi, former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has donated ₦15 million to the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State – the only institution in the entire South East accredited for dental surgery.
Obi made the donation during a surprise visit on Friday and urged government authorities to prioritise health education as a pillar for national development.
He explained that his visit was inspired by a letter from a student in the faculty, adding that he deliberately chose not to inform the university’s management in advance to avoid interrupting academic activities.
On arrival, Obi said he was disturbed by the poor state of the learning environment. Comparing it with his own experience as a student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), he expressed concern over the decline in infrastructure, saying no nation should allow its youth to endure such poor educational conditions.
Widely known for his commitment to education, Obi attributed the situation in healthcare training institutions to poor leadership. He called for collaborative efforts to improve health education, which he described as vital for societal growth and sustainability.
“One of your colleagues reached out to me about the challenges facing your faculty and appealed for support,” Obi said. “I have come to commend your resilience in striving to succeed in a system that is not providing you with adequate facilities.”
He recalled that former President Shehu Shagari once visited UNN and even spent the night on campus, showing the value leaders once placed on education.
Encouraging students to raise their voices and demand better learning conditions, Obi reminded them that UNN has produced some of Nigeria’s finest minds. He cited his time as governor, when he oversaw the construction of a teaching hospital in Awka within 18 months and completed a law faculty building in just six months.
Stressing the link between health and education, Obi added: “We cannot continue like this. Things must change. Our children should not be subjected to these conditions.”
He then presented a ₦15 million cheque to support the faculty’s improvement and assist with its re-accreditation process.
Obi was shown around various rundown sections of the faculty, including the Phantom Head Lab, Prosthetic Lab, and Lecture Theatre, which suffers from a leaking roof.
The Chairman of the Faculty’s Re-accreditation Fundraising Committee, Mr. Boston Chukwuemeka, revealed that the school currently has only nine phantom heads and dental chairs, while a minimum of fifty is needed to meet accreditation requirements. He said the faculty requires ₦38 million in total to upgrade equipment and facilities.
Chukwuemeka also appealed for an increase in the admission quota from fifteen to at least fifty students, which he said would only be possible with improved infrastructure.
On behalf of the students, the Dental Students Association President, Mr. Daniel Ogba, thanked Obi for his generous support, describing him as a mentor and a father figure to the student body.
