The greatest investment for any nation is in education - Peter Obi

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By Madu Obi

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election and one of the proponents of the coalition ahead of the 2027 election, Mr Peter Obi, has said that the greatest investment any nation can make is investment in education.

Obi, who spoke at St. John Vianney Science College, Ukwulu, Anambra State, during his visit to appreciate the school for winning the debate among top secondary schools in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, lamented that Nigeria has not been investing heavily in education, which is why the country is still underdeveloped.

He said: "Ii is an honour to visit St. John Vianney Science College, Ukwulu, to personally congratulate the students and staff on their remarkable victory at the inaugural UK-Nigeria Debate Championship. Their achievement brought pride not only to Anambra but to all of Nigeria.

"In recognition of their brilliance and to support their continued growth, I presented the school with a ₦10 million donation towards infrastructural development. A sound learning environment remains essential if our children are to compete globally.

"I encouraged the students to see their victory as a collective triumph for all young Nigerians who believe that excellence can emerge from our classrooms. I urged them to keep studying hard, reminding them that their future—and the nation’s—lies in their hands.

"To the staff and management, I expressed my admiration for their noble work. Their success affirms that even schools in rural areas, when properly supported, can attain global standards. It is a call for us all to continue investing in our children.

"I also extend deep appreciation to the school’s proprietor, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma (Fr. Ebube Muonso), for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to academic excellence and moral formation. His dedication has created an environment where students can thrive, not just locally, but on the global stage.

"The team at St. John Vianney exemplifies what Nigerian youths can achieve when given the right foundation. I am deeply inspired by their discipline, eloquence, and intellect. May their success continue to inspire many more across the country

Addressing reporters at the premises of the school, Obi added. "Investment in education is far more important than investing in oil. The more you invest in education, the more developed you are. If oil makes a country rich, Venezuela would have been the richest country in the world.

Nigeria is underdeveloped because we don't invest in what drives development, which is education. Holistic development can only be possible if there is proper investment in education. Let us invest in what is important."

He commended the founder of the school, Rev commend Fr Emmanuel Obimma, for investing heavily in education and thanked all those who are assisting him to achieve great things he's doing in education.

Obi added: "What Fr is doing is what government is supposed to be doing, and that is the problem of Nigeria. Government has not prioritized critical areas of development.

Rather, they are busy celebrating, consuming and wasting resources. When there are fleet of cars built by other nations, we think we are doing the right thing."

Obi said he visits at least one school everyday, adding "I will be in another school on Monday and in another one on Tuesday. I do this because I feel it is the fastest way to build humanity, otherwise one's life is a wasted effort."