The former Governor of Anambra State and the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has politely declined the proposal to have a magnificent hall at Shanahan College of Nursing Sciences, Nsukka named after him.
Speaking after Obi presented a cheque of 20 million to support the institution’s ongoing infrastructural development on Thursday, the school’s manager, Rev. Fr. Kelvin Caesar, informed the audience that the hall where the event was held was being solely funded by Obi and that it would be named in his honour.
In a swift response, Obi declined the honour, explaining that he was building similar structures in over 50 institutions across Nigeria and that it would be inappropriate if all of them were named after him.
He further emphasised that his contributions to education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation were motivated by a deep commitment to securing a better future for Nigerian children. He cautioned that philanthropy should not be driven by the desire for recognition but by the genuine urge to serve humanity.
His words: I do it to serve humanity. The reason God blesses us with resources is so we can use them to improve the lives of others and not for self-glorification.
Obi also reiterated his passion for supporting medical and allied disciplines, stressing their critical role in society. He noted that the cheque presented was part of his commitment for the previous year and assured the school of his continued support this year. “I will return”, was how he summed it up.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Most Rev. Prof. Godfrey Onah, who is currently leading a retreat for the clergy of the Diocese of Bamenda, Cameroon, spoke through his representative, Rev. Fr. Dr. Miletus Ossai, the Coordinator of the Diocesan Health Services. He described Obi as a symbol of integrity and honour, commending his commitment to human capital development, which he described as the most critical need for a thriving society.
