Obi Pledges To Rebuild Burnt Agulu School, Says True Wealth Lies In Educating Every Nigerian Child
FORMER Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has pledged to begin the reconstruction of the burnt Practising School in Agulu, Anambra State, by January 2026, describing education as “the truest measure of a nation’s dignity.”
Obi made the pledge while addressing members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Abuja, where he spoke on the theme “Reclaiming Our Nation’s Dignity.”
He narrated his visit to several schools of nursing and health institutions across the Southeast — including Amichi, Adazi-Nnukwu, Nnewi, Agulu, Ogidi, Oji River, Ihiala, and Enugu — as part of his ongoing effort to improve educational and healthcare facilities.
“In Agulu, I met children learning under leaking roofs and burnt classrooms. It broke my heart. I assured the community that reconstruction will begin soon. True national wealth lies in our children and their education,” Obi said.
He emphasized that investing in education remains the most effective way to lift Nigeria out of poverty and restore national dignity.
“A serious country must be deeply concerned with its education, its healthcare, and the need to lift its citizens out of poverty. That is how we reclaim our humanity,” he added.
Obi expressed concern that poor infrastructure and widespread vote-buying reflect a deeper moral failure in Nigeria’s leadership and citizenry. He recounted how some residents in his community said they would vote only for candidates who offered them cash.
“When I heard that some people said they would vote for whoever paid them, I told my aide that I would rather rebuild a burnt school with ₦10 million than spend it to buy votes,” Obi said.
He described this as symbolic of Nigeria’s broader moral crisis — where short-term gains overshadow long-term societal progress.
“When a people sell their votes, they sell their conscience. And when conscience dies, the nation follows,” he warned.
The former governor said education should be treated as an emergency priority, arguing that no country can command respect globally when millions of its children are denied access to learning.
“We cannot call ourselves a proud nation when our children sit under trees to learn. Rebuilding our schools is not charity; it is the redemption of our soul as a nation,” Obi declared.
Obi’s message drew emotional reactions from editors and media executives present, many of whom commended his humility and his consistent advocacy for education as the cornerstone of Nigeria’s transformation.
He concluded by urging journalists to spotlight education and social justice in their reporting, saying the pen must “build bridges of hope, not walls of despair.”
“When we invest in our children, we invest in our dignity. That is how nations rise,” he said.
