Conference Centre Gets Billions, But Schools Lack Pencils, Desks – Peter Obi
Former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Peter Obi, has decried what he described as the government’s misplaced priorities, condemning the allocation of billions of naira to renovate a conference centre while schools across Nigeria lack basic learning tools such as desks, pencils, and functioning laboratories.
Speaking on Monday in a statement he shared across social media, Obi expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of education in Nigeria, citing a recent call from activist Aisha Yesufu, who brought to his attention the appalling conditions at the Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State — the same school where over 200 girls were abducted by Boko Haram in 2014.
“Earlier this month, my dear sister Aisha Yesufu called to give me the disturbing information that there were no computers, functional laboratories, or electricity in the school,” Obi said.
“With a population of over 2,500 students, the school had only one desktop computer.”
Obi revealed that Yesufu requested his assistance in procuring two more computers and installing solar lighting in the computer classroom to enable digital learning.
Although he intended to visit the school personally, he was advised against it due to security concerns.
Instead, Obi met with leaders of the Chibok community in Abuja, where he made an initial donation of 10 laptops, 3 printers, and ₦6 million to support the school’s laboratories, computer room, and to install a motorised borehole.
“I made it clear that what I was doing was not a donation, but a sincere commitment and a promise to the future of our community,” he said.
Obi used the occasion to criticise the federal and state governments’ spending priorities, particularly the billions reportedly spent on renovating conference centres, building new government lodges, and purchasing luxury furnishings, while children sit on bare floors without writing materials.
“Occasions like this are deeply disturbing and cause me to reflect and personally question our priorities and the rising costs of misgovernance,” Obi stated.
“One wonders why we live in a nation where our students don’t have labs, books, or even pencils, while our leaders live in opulence, spending billions to renovate conference centres, build car parks, and furnish new lodges of international standards.”
The former Anambra State governor, known for his austere approach to governance, emphasized that Nigeria must urgently shift its focus toward investing in education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation, warning that failure to do so would have long-term consequences.
“I continue to plead on behalf of all of us that the time has come for self-examination,” he said.
“We must prioritise critical areas of development — education, healthcare, and pulling our people out of poverty.”
Conference Centre Gets Billions, But Schools Lack Pencils, Desks – Peter Obi is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
