Obi donates N50 million to Dominican University, Ibadan; Tells inspiring story of Jonathan Luke Wood

Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate in the 2023 election in Nigeria, Mr. Peter Obi, has made a donation of N50 million to the Dominican University, Samonda, Ibadan, Oyo State, in keeping with his commitment to supporting education in the country.

Mr. Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, who made the donation at the convocation ceremony of the University on Saturday, December 7, 2024, said further, that the donation was a reaffirmation of his belief in education as a cornerstone of societal progress.

Obi, who has been Pro-Chancellor of the institution since its inception nearly a decade ago, stressed in an X (former twitter) post that his commitment to the growth and development of the University remains steadfast, noting that the convocation ceremony provided him “an opportunity to reflect on the transformative power of education and the resilience of the human spirit in overcoming challenges.”

He said that the highlight of his speech at the occasion was his sharing of the inspiring story of the youngest ever President of a University in the United States of America (USA) who he met recently in Nigeria:

“The highlight of my speech was the inspiring story I shared with the graduating students about a young man I met this week, Mr. Jonathan Luke Wood, President of the University of California, Sacramento.

“His life journey is a remarkable testament to determination against all odds. Born into adversity, he faced unimaginable challenges, including having his mother imprisoned, being adopted, and being suspended from school 42 times for truancy. Despite these setbacks, he refused to let his circumstances define him. Instead, he rewrote his story, rising above his struggles to become the youngest president of an American university, the University of California, Sacramento.

“His story serves as a powerful reminder of the boundless heights we can attain through hard work, resilience and determination. I urged the students to appreciate the innovative knowledge and values instilled in them at Dominican University. I emphasized that success is not measured by what one takes from society but by what one contributes to it.

“I encouraged them to work diligently to transform our nation from a culture of consumption to one of production. As part of my commitment to supporting education, I donated the sum of 50 million naira to Dominican University, reaffirming my belief in education as a cornerstone for societal progress. I remain dedicated to initiatives that inspire hope, empower minds for a new Nigeria that is truly POssible! -PO.”