iredia

Cook 🍳 | Chop🍝 | Code💻

[iredia @irebrav]

Fear conquers fear.

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

After My Visits to Benue and Plateau.

After returning to Abuja on 8th September 2026, following our visits to Benue and Plateau States, I travelled to Europe, first to Germany and then to the United Kingdom. There, I participated in a series of high-level meetings addressing issues of fundamental importance to Nigeria’s future.

Our conversations addressed democracy and electoral integrity, the escalating challenge of poverty, education, corruption, healthcare, and, above all, practical ways to improve the lives and preserve the dignity of our people.

I was especially encouraged by the sincere readiness of our international partners to support Nigeria, particularly in the critically important area of education. I have consistently emphasised that education is the most valuable investment we can make in our people, because no nation can create a prosperous and sustainable future without developing the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of its citizens.

We must intentionally transition Nigeria from consumption to production, from dependence to productivity, from wasteful practices to responsible resource management, and from division to a common national purpose.

Together, we can create a Nigeria in which every child receives a quality education, democracy genuinely embodies the people’s will, healthcare is within reach, public resources are administered responsibly, and every Nigerian enjoys a fair chance to lead a dignified and productive life.

A New Nigeria Is POssible. -PO

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

Our National Tragedies are Resources for National Transformation

I have received many calls and text messages from patriotic Nigerians who were annoyed that an Arise News anchor wanted me to answer questions about the 1966 coups, which were national tragedies. I reassured those patriots that, as a presidential candidate, I am ready and able to answer any questions about anything relating to Nigeria. I have a commitment to serve the people, not to hide from them.

As I travel across Nigeria and listen to Nigerians of all ethnic and religious identities, I have had opportunities to reflect on the many tragedies we have experienced in Nigeria, including the 1966 coups, the civil war, and the various mass violence that have plagued different parts of the country.

My view is that we could have avoided these tragedies if we had entrenched and implemented laws justly. These tragedies are the result of leadership failure. It is our responsibility to understand these failures and fix them.
The failure of leadership to guarantee all its citizens equal rights and freedoms, and to enforce the fundamental rights in the constitution without fear or favour.
We must focus on learning from our past. Mistakes in history are not fatal. They can become opportunities for transformation.

This happened in Japan. The Japanese miracle that took place between 1920 and 1970 was a product of patriotic leaders who used the Japanese trauma of colonial rule to drive miraculous economic development. South Korea followed Japan by weaponising cruel experiences under Japan to develop a policy framework of a developmental state, and became an economic giant under the inspiration of General Park from 1960. The same applies to China under Deng Xiaoping, who reinvented China from the tragedies of Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution and the many deaths of that ill-fated policy. Today, China is the second-largest economy in the world. What a transformation. That is our vision. That should also be our history.

For me, my responsibility as Nigerian President is to turn the pains and tragedies of the past into opportunities to make Nigeria united, stable, and prosperous.
We need a leadership that is not trapped in the past, a leadership that focuses on what binds us together rather than what divides us. At this point, we need a leader who believes in the destiny and future of Nigeria, a leader who publicly proclaims that all parts of Nigeria abound in human and natural resources, and that all parts of Nigeria can become productive and prosperous.

The difference in human history is having leaders who do not maximise those pasts for selfish ambition but leverage them to build a prosperous future for all.
Even in Africa, we can learn from Rwanda on how a recent terrible experience is being used to advance national unity and prosperity. We can do the same for Nigeria.

I am ready to speak about what the voters consider important. I am ready to comfort and console. I am ready to lead from the front as we work to turn away from the ugly past and into a future where no Nigerian will suffer on account of his or her ethnicity, religion, or social pedigree. Our past is important, but our past is not our destiny. Our future is what we do with our past. Our past is our resource for national transformation. We are ready to transform Nigeria.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

[Alex Onyia @winexviv]

We have identified three Nigerian universities for our first research project. These universities are:

1. University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
2. University of Ibadan (UI)
3. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU)

These universities were carefully selected based on their antecedents, geographical locations, and the quality of research work in our area of interest.

The project is designed to recruit and fund at least three Ph.D. positions from each university.

We will make this one of the most impactful education research projects in Nigeria.

We find this project critical to the future of education in Nigeria, and I will try to carry everyone along on the journey.

[Alex Onyia @winexviv]

My organization, Educare, will be committing $100,000 within the next 18 months toward academic research exclusively in Nigeria. We will identify and partner with some universities to deliver the outcomes.

We have identified numerous challenges in the Nigerian education sector. However, our first investment will focus on the development and psychometric standardization of school exams, with critical thinking as a core component.

This initiative will span primary, secondary, and tertiary education, significantly improving the quality of learning outcomes in the country.

It is time to start creating a true Nigerian education system that will move our society forward.

A lot of people know about the problems in Nigeria; it is time we start committing to solving them with meaningful research investments.

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

PRESIDENT TINUBU GOES ON HOLIDAY AGAIN

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again left Nigeria for another holiday, this time beginning a three-week vacation in Europe.

Nigeria is in deep crisis. Nigerians can barely afford food and transportation. Insecurity is ravaging communities, and thousands of children are unable to access education because of insecurity.

Just days ago, about 600 Nigerians, predominantly women, children, and the elderly, were reportedly abducted during Juma’at prayers in Niger State.

Yet, at this critical moment, the President has left the country for another holiday.

According to reports, government expenditure on presidential trips and related travel expenses between June 2023 and April 2026 amounted to about ₦37.64 billion, with the President spending approximately 261 days outside Nigeria.

Meanwhile, only ₦36 million was reportedly released to the Federal Ministry of Health in 2025, despite a capital allocation of ₦218 billion, in a country of over 230 million people.

This is the calamity befalling our country today.

A government that can spend tens of billions on presidential travel while critical sectors remain starved of funds, and Nigerians are asked to endure worsening hardship, must not be allowed to continue.

Leadership is about priorities.

When citizens cannot feed their families, move safely, access healthcare, send their children to school, or sleep peacefully in their homes, the President should be more concerned about fixing the country than repeatedly leaving it.

I look forward to a Nigeria where our President can vacation in Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Cross River State, Bauchi, Ebonyi, and many other destinations across our country.

The President of Nigeria should be the chief marketer of Nigeria as a tourism destination, as other comparable countries do.

Imagine the economic possibilities if our leaders, celebrities, business communities, and citizens travelled within Nigeria more frequently.

Tourism creates jobs. It supports hospitality, transportation, agriculture, entertainment, crafts, and small businesses. It brings investment and foreign exchange and allows communities to benefit directly from their natural and cultural assets.

We cannot continue to export our wealth and import our pleasures while our own enormous potential remains neglected.

We deserve leadership that puts Nigeria first; leadership that cares and plans for a better Nigeria. That is the kind of leadership that the partnership between H.E. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and me will bring.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

Celebrating My Eldest Brother at 75

Today, 30th August 2026, I celebrate my eldest brother, Dominic Ositadimma Obi, who turns 75. I celebrate him not merely because he is my elder brother or because of his age, but because he is an exemplary human being.

When I was Governor of Anambra State for eight years, he never came to my office or the Governor’s Lodge for a day seeking favours, as many might have expected. He is a planner and contractor who builds homes for people, yet not once did he ask me for a government contract.

Whenever we met, he would warmly embrace me and tell me that he was fine. He would then solemnly remind me to keep doing what I promised the people and never bring a bad name to the family and my community. He would tell me that whatever difficulties he was going through, many others were worse off, and that I should do my best for society.

I later came to understand that this was not peculiar to him alone. My family members had actually held a meeting and resolved that none of them would take advantage of my position as Governor. They decided that whatever good name I was building for the Obi family and Agulu must be protected. The same principle extended to my children.

Today, at 75, my beloved brother remains deeply concerned about Nigeria. Whenever we speak, he is full of prayers and good wishes. He constantly reminds me that if I have the opportunity to serve Nigeria, I should do so with honesty, integrity, and the interest of the people at heart.

Brother Dom, I thank God for the gift of your life and for the example you have set for our family. Your integrity, humility, contentment, and sense of responsibility are qualities worthy of celebration.

May God Almighty, who has graciously been with you all these years, grant you good health, His abundant grace, and blessings.

Happy 75th birthday, my dearest brother. -PO

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

A President and the Endless Question of His Past

As a citizen of no other country, who has never sought foreign citizenship even when doing so became fashionable, my loyalty to Nigeria and my faith in her destiny remain unshaken.

Yesterday, 30th of August, being Sunday, I fervently prayed for our nation and for those entrusted with the solemn responsibility of leadership. I found myself deeply saddened by the direction in which our country is heading.

It is profoundly embarrassing that we have reached a point where a sitting President is asking a foreign court to withhold records concerning his past, particularly records relating to matters of legitimate public interest.

Leadership, in my humble view, demands the courage and humility to confront one’s history — to acknowledge mistakes, provide candid explanations where questions arise, and, where necessary, apologise and seek forgiveness. True authority is strengthened, not diminished, when a leader accepts responsibility rather than seeks to shield uncomfortable aspects of the past from legitimate scrutiny.

This becomes particularly important when questions concern educational credentials. Issues surrounding foundational schooling — primary and secondary — should not remain unresolved or be addressed primarily through legal proceedings. Nigerians deserve clear, credible, and verifiable explanations, especially when such had been submitted in the past.

My deepest concern is the example this sets for more than 200 million Nigerians, particularly the over 30 million young people in schools. The nation’s highest office should exemplify integrity, accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership.

An imperfect past is part of the human condition. What matters is the willingness to confront it with humility, honesty and deep apology, to make amends where necessary and, when circumstances so demand, to place the interests of the nation above personal ambition.

When will our political class fully appreciate that individual ambitions are temporary, while the nation endures? The Presidency is an office held for a season; the moral standards established by those who occupy it can influence generations.

Nigeria is greater than any one person, and the integrity of the Republic must always come before the interests of the individual.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

[Alex Onyia @winexviv]

We have officially started the bootcamp today in Enugu. 40 engineers are participating.

These children are going to learn how to make drones from scratch to help tackle security challenges and also speed up hospital medication delivery.

They will also learn hardcore Robotics and AI, Automechanics, Bricklaying, Welding, and Electricals.

This will be the beginning of a new direction for education in the South East.

We are raising real problem solvers with real skills, not a theory-based generation without skills.

The future is exciting!

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

Hunger and the Insensitivity of Mr. President

I watched with deep concern the statement made by President Bola Tinubu to the Catholic Bishops who visited his office, that there has always been hunger in Nigeria, even before he was born.

While it is true that hunger has been a part of human life and has existed in our country for decades, such a statement appears insensitive to the plight of the millions of Nigerians who face worsening economic hardship today. More importantly, we must focus on the facts and the measurable outcomes of governance.

Before the present administration assumed office in 2023, an estimated 17 million Nigerians were facing acute food insecurity, primarily caused by insecurity, armed conflict, widespread banditry, and devastating floods. Today, less than three years later, that number has risen to about 35 million Nigerians. Instead of improving the situation, the crisis has worsened significantly under the current administration.

The same trend is evident in poverty. Before this government took office in 2023, Nigeria’s extreme poverty was estimated at 87 million people. Current projections suggest that this number is approaching 140 million people, making Nigeria home to the largest population of people living in extreme poverty anywhere in the world.

No one disputes that this administration inherited serious challenges. However, leadership is measured not by the challenges inherited but by the results achieved. The government must honestly acknowledge that its response has fallen far short of what the situation demanded, with millions more Nigerians pushed deeper into poverty and hunger.

The combination of persistent insecurity, poor economic management, fiscal indiscipline, wasteful public expenditure, and inadequate investment in productive sectors has compounded the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

A responsible government must prioritise investment in education, healthcare, agriculture, security, and small businesses while pursuing policies that create jobs, expand production, and lift people out of poverty. That remains my commitment to the Nigerian people.

A New Nigeria is Possible. PO

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

Reflections on My 65th Birthday

Today, July 19, 2026, marks my 65th birthday. At sixty-five, birthdays should naturally become moments of deep reflection - moments to look back with gratitude to Almighty God for His abundant graces, examine the journey so far, and ask how the remaining years can be devoted more meaningfully to the service of God and humanity.

Perhaps in countries where basic human needs have largely been met, where institutions function effectively, and where citizens enjoy a greater measure of security and dignity, such attainments may rightly call for elaborate celebrations. In Nigeria, however, our reality compels a different kind of reflection.

Our nation is blessed with enormous human and natural resources, yet millions of our people continue to struggle with challenges that demand our collective attention. We cannot afford to celebrate ourselves excessively while many around us are burdened by poverty, ill health, unemployment, and limited opportunities. Rather, occasions such as this should remind us of our responsibility to contribute towards building a nation where future generations can genuinely celebrate.

This is why I have always seen birthdays not merely as occasions for personal celebration, but as opportunities for sober reflection, thanksgiving, and a renewed commitment to service.

As I reflected today, I came to a simple conclusion: the greatest celebration of life is not what we receive from others, but the lives we can touch positively.

This conviction has guided my approach throughout my years in business, in the corporate world, and as Governor of Anambra State. In each of these roles, I have tried to see every privilege not as a personal entitlement but as an opportunity to improve the lives of others.

Whenever people or institutions sought to celebrate me with expensive gifts or elaborate ceremonies, I encouraged them instead to redirect those resources towards projects that would have a lasting impact. Over the years, this philosophy has resulted in the building of schools, hostel blocks, support to schools, and other facilities that continue to benefit the less privileged. I have always believed that resources meant for personal comfort can often be transformed into instruments of hope for many.

The greatest honour anyone can receive is not found in gifts, ceremonies, or public admiration, but in knowing that one’s life has contributed, however modestly, to making another person’s life better.

Today, therefore, I give thanks to Almighty God for the gift of life and for bringing me to this important milestone of 65 years. I began the day with a Mass of Thanksgiving in Onitsha, thanking God for His grace, protection, guidance, and the countless blessings He has bestowed upon me over the years.

After the Mass, I proceeded to St. Raphael’s Hospital, Umueri, a small rural hospital in Anambra East Local Government Area. In furtherance of my belief that birthdays should be occasions for service rather than self-indulgence, I donated the sum of ₦10 million to support the hospital’s work of providing quality healthcare to the people.

As I was conducted around the hospital and saw patients in their moments of vulnerability, I was reminded again of our shared humanity. Some of those receiving care may not even have the financial means to settle their hospital bills, yet they deserve compassion, dignity, and access to quality healthcare. Their condition was a reminder that leadership, in its truest form, is about caring for people, especially those who cannot repay our kindness.

Hospitals and schools remain two of the greatest investments any society can make. A hospital preserves life; a school shapes the future. Supporting both is, therefore, not just an act of charity - it is an investment in humanity and in the future of our nation.

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

Strengthening Development Through Partnership

Yesterday, I met with the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Egloff, and we had a productive and engaging discussion on our country’s developmental journey, with particular emphasis on the critical sectors that drive development: education, healthcare, and lifting people out of poverty.

I expressed my gratitude for the invaluable contributions of the Swiss Confederation to Nigeria’s development, especially its support for critical economic, cultural, humanitarian, and peace-building initiatives, particularly in the North-East.

Building stronger partnerships founded on shared values and a commitment to human development remains essential to creating a more prosperous and inclusive Nigeria.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

[Mustafa. @oprydai]

i often think about this…

[Alex Onyia @winexviv]

We captured this beautiful moment of Chimdiebube Onwubiko arriving in Enugu yesterday to a hero's welcome.

He won a gold medal at the International STEM Olympiad Grand Finale in Rome.

I love seeing education reclaim its rightful place in our society.

This is just the beginning of something great.

[Alex Onyia @winexviv]

Lagos is flooding again.

We have UNILAG, LASU, Pan-Atlantic University, thousands of engineering students, and hundreds of PhDs.

Where are the practical engineering solutions?

What exactly is the purpose of an engineering degree if our biggest engineering problems remain unsolved?

Are our universities producing problem-solvers or just issuing certificates?

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

The Children's Safe Return Is Worthy of Thanksgiving.

I am greatly relieved and delighted to learn of the safe rescue of the schoolchildren who were kidnapped. I sincerely thank all those whose tireless efforts made their freedom possible, especially the security personnel and everyone who worked behind the scenes.

While we celebrate this happy outcome, we must remember that no child should ever have to endure such trauma. The recurring incidents of kidnapping, particularly of schoolchildren, underscore the urgent need to strengthen our security architecture and make the protection of lives and property the foremost responsibility of government.

Our children deserve to learn in an atmosphere of safety, not fear. We must continue to work towards building a Nigeria where every child can pursue education without the threat of violence or abduction.

I rejoice with the children, their families, their schools, and all Nigerians on this heartening development.

A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO

[Alex Onyia @winexviv]

At Sam Mbakwe airport Owerri, a billboard has been put up for our star boy, Egejurum Onyedikachi, to celebrate him as he arrived in Owerri today.

He is 11 years old and the world’s best in the Primary category for Mathematics.

He is so good that he finished the exam and fell asleep.

What a star!

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

The Disheartening Humiliation of Prof. Aghaji

Every day in this country, we find ourselves in a bizarre situation that we find difficult to understand: where we are and how we got to this uncivilised behaviour and rascality. Worse still, when you try to bring these abnormalities to the attention of those concerned, they resort to abuse instead of appreciation.

Just this morning, my attention was drawn to the disrespectful and humiliating circumstances surrounding the apprehension of Professor Martin Aghaji, a distinguished 74-year-old medical expert. This man was not invited, nor was any direct contact made with him. Instead, they invaded his home at Independent Layout, Enugu, in the dead of the night, at 2 a.m., to arrest him in front of his visiting daughter.

As an internationally recognised cardiothoracic surgeon, esteemed academic, and elder statesman, Professor Aghaji warrants a considerable degree of respect, both because of his advanced age and his substantial contributions to our nation. More importantly, however, every Nigerian, irrespective of status or profession, deserves to be treated with dignity and in accordance with the rule of law. After the humiliation of breaking into his house and whisking him away from Enugu to Lagos for three days, all he got was, “Sorry, we made a mistake.”

The public outcry concerning the state’s handling of Professor Aghaji’s case highlights a wider conflict between the actions of state security agencies and the imperative to safeguard professional integrity and individual dignity. Such conduct directed at a 74-year-old might not only exacerbate the critical “brain drain” but also severely damage the country’s already precarious healthcare infrastructure.

This incident brings to mind the similar mistreatment of a medical practitioner in Akwa Ibom, which prompted the Nigeria Medical Association to consider a nationwide strike. Fortunately, due to prompt intervention, a formal public apology was issued to the affected doctor.

The practice of treating highly regarded, ethical professionals - and indeed any Nigerian - like common criminals sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the rule of law across all sectors. Therefore, we must conduct ourselves with civility in the discharge of our public duties. A superior and renewed Nigeria is indeed POssible. -PO

[Chibueze Ofobuike @buezeofobuike]

I am excited to share that the 2026 finalists of the Aguata Best Students Challenge are departing Lagos, Nigeria, to Kigali, Rwanda, for the purpose of engaging in a life-changing edhcational trip.

The twenty high-flying students will be joining numerous others from different parts of the world to participate in the 2026 Pan-African Boot Camp, holding in the Ntare Louiselund International School, Kigali, Rwanda

At the Boot Camp, our champions will be exposed to activities in the areas of robotics, AI, digital storytelling, etc , - aside the international exposure and networking.

The twenty Aguata champions are:

• Ejezie Sopuruchukwu Divine — St. Peter’s Secondary School, Achina

• Ezema Chisom Esther — Community Secondary School, Akpo

• Okoye Amarachukwu Juliet — Community Secondary School, Aguluezechukwu

• Agu Chisom Stella — Marius Scholar Secondary School, Uga

• Uduji Chioma Treasure — First Hill Secondary School, Ekwulobia

• Ejikeme-Eze Barnabas Kenechukwu — Christ the King Secondary School, Igbo-Ukwu

• Anumudu Eberechukwu Mary-Cynthia — Holy Name Secondary School, Umuchu

• Onuorah Onyedikachi Micheal — St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Ikenga

• Moses Vivian Chinyere — Urban Girls Secondary School, Ekwulobia

• Ejemeni Chinecherem Happiness — Mother of Christ Secondary School, Ezinifite

• Orazulume Chibueze Kingsley — Community Boys Secondary School, Igbo-Ukwu

• Agu Makuochukwu Karen — Holy Child Secondary School, Isuofia

• Dominic Chijindu Divine — Immanuel Model Secondary School, Nkpologwu

14. Okafor Chinemerem Blessing — Community Secondary School, Ora-Eri

• Uzozie Chikamso Rita — Holy Family Secondary School, Igbo-Ukwu

• Onyemaeze Chigozie Divine — St. Augustine Secondary School, Uga

• Okpara Onyekachi Johnson — All Saint’s Seminary, Ekwulobia

• Obinna Goodluck Obinna — Uga Boys Secondary School, Uga

• Okechukwu Onyinyechi Gift — Community Secondary School, Umuchu

• Ezeokeke Ugonna Kingsley — Aguata High School, Aguata

Without doubt, the trip and the boot camp experiences will shape the lives of our amazing and hard-working champions and as well place them on pedestals for greater accomplishments in the future.

Great thanks to our sponsors for providing all the necessary - particularly financial - support needed for impacting in the lives of our amazing students.

Big congratulations to our stars.

In Aguata LGA, Impossibility is Nothing.