There was mild drama on Thursday at the Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ihiala, Anambra State, after the management announced plans to name its newly constructed administrative block after former governor and presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The school’s administrator, Rev. Fr. Chidiebere Ughaerumba, disclosed the plan during Obi’s visit to the institution, where he donated funds to support its development.
“Considering your continued support to us, when the school’s administrative building (a five-floor edifice) is completed, we will name it after you,” Ughaerumba said. “We thank you for always coming and always donating. You are always interested in helping to build humanity.”
However, Obi immediately protested the decision, insisting that he did not want any structure named after him or his family. Despite the priest’s suggestion to name it after Obi’s wife instead, the former governor maintained his stance, even taking the microphone to publicly reject the offer.
He said: “I’m against such plans. When I was governor, every community wanted to give me a chieftaincy title, but I rejected it. Even the school I attended wanted to honour me with a doctorate degree, and I refused. I was also offered a national award, but I said it should come after my tenure.
“Any day I want to be addressed as doctor, I will go and read for a PhD. Whatever I need, God has given me. So, if there is anything you want to give me as a favour, please find someone else who needs it more.”
Obi explained that his focus was to use his resources to promote health and education rather than self-recognition. “This week alone, I’ve visited five schools and donated between N5 million and N15 million to each. I could buy a new car or throw a party, but I prefer to support schools. It is a wasteful life to throw a party when a school somewhere needs N10 million to buy a generator,” he said.
He later presented a cheque of N15 million to the college, reaffirming his commitment to supporting health institutions as part of his contribution to humanity.
“I came to see what Bishop Jonas-Benson Okoye is doing in the new cathedral in Nnewi, and decided to stop by here to see the progress in your school and offer my support,” Obi said. “Money should be used to make society better. The two most important things in life are health and education, and that’s what this school provides. This is my annual visit, and I’ll continue to assist schools in my own little way.”