The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 General Election, Mr. Peter Obi, has challenged Nigerian students to take full ownership of their destiny.

He gave this charge during an unannounced visit and his donation of N30 million to Dominican University Ibadan (Samonda Campus).

Addressing students and faculty, Obi didn’t mince words about the paradox of Nigeria remaining one of the world’s hungriest nations despite 60 per cent of its land being uncultivated. He added that the era of relying on international globalisation has ended, noting that the continent is being told to go back home and develop from the grassroots.

Obi blamed the nation’s struggles not on a lack of resources but on a chronic deficit of competence, capacity, and compassion in leadership, warning that the current levels of poverty and unemployment are not tolerated in any other country.

Using clear examples, the former governor urged students to view agriculture as the new oil. He explained that the Netherlands, a country roughly the size of Niger State, exports more than $130 billion in agricultural products annually, three times what Nigeria earns from oil.

He further contrasted the potential of the Sambisa area with Israel, which exports food despite having a landmass one-third the size of the forest.

“Development doesn’t come with tribe; it comes with knowledge,” Obi insisted that competent leadership is the only way to turn these vast resources into wealth.

The Vice-Chancellor of Dominican University, Professor Jacinta A. Opara, expressed profound gratitude for the N30 million donation, which follows a previous N50 million grant.

She noted that the visit had significantly boosted the spirits of both students and staff, reaffirming the university’s mission as a centre of academic and moral excellence.

When questioned about the upcoming 2027 elections and how to guarantee a fair process, Obi directed the responsibility back to the youth, stating, “It is you who will protect your vote, not me. It is our own country, but it is your future that is at stake.”

He called for a transition from a culture of consumption to one of production, insisting that the birth of a “New Nigeria” is a necessity that must begin within the classroom.

Mr Cosmos Akobundu, a 400-level Philosophy student, was excited to discover that Obi studied Philosophy in his first degree.

“Listening to him today has changed my perception of our collective future; now, it is necessary for me to take my destiny into my hands for a new Nigeria,” he said.

Winifred Ogwu, a 200-level Mass Communication student, said: “His presence and words of encouragement have prompted me to redouble my study efforts, especially at this examination period. I now know that I have a role to play in shaping the future of Nigeria.”

Jacinta Nwachukwu Nelson, a 400-level Mass Communication student, said: “Having heard him, I learnt that if I work hard, it is a way to take my destiny into my own hands.”

Fr. Dr. Augustine Agwulonu, OP, an erudite scholar in the citadel of learning, said, “Mr. Peter is indeed a leader. Showing up unannounced is one of the qualities of a good leader; a very pleasant surprise for this Monday, actually the beginning of the week. It is like showers of blessings from heaven as the student begins their examination.”

Fr. Dr. Emmanuel Ogu, OP, a University Leadership expert, said that Peter Obi’s unannounced visit represents responsibility and humility to him.

Fr. Francis Chiadi, OP Provincial Promoter, Dominican Family, Dominican Province of St Joseph the Worker (Nigeria and Ghana), posited that the visit is a catalyst for entrenching the culture of excellence among young students.