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.
My Vision for a Productive and Prosperous Nigeria
Today, being the 1st of July, 2026, I wish to humbly recall that when I decided to contest for the office of President of Nigeria, I pledged to place Nigeria on the path of unity and national transformation. Now, as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, I will, in the coming weeks and months, provide insights into the roadmap that I am confident will help curb abuse in government, halt the decline in the quality of life of Nigerians at all levels, and usher in an era of unity, peace, sustained progress, and prosperity.
This vision is anchored on a commitment to unity, inclusion, social justice, equity, and the freedom of every citizen to pursue lawful dreams.
Central to this proposed roadmap are significant reforms in education and healthcare, which are at the core of human capital development.
Robust human capital is indispensable infrastructure for national progress. It serves as the fundamental capital upon which daily life, economic expansion, and the delivery of essential public services depend.
These are foundational areas that we must reform with energy and determination if we are to reap the demographic dividend of our youthful population.
From the outset of my presidency, we will establish a task force dedicated to drastically reducing the menace of out-of-school children. We will place greater emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to support our drive for massive industrialisation, anchored on our agricultural endowments and value addition across value chains organised around industrial parks to be located in development zones across the geopolitical regions of the country.
Funding and improving the equipment of TVET institutions, through partnerships among government, the private sector, and social entrepreneurs such as faith-based educators, will facilitate apprenticeship opportunities in the private sector, similar to the German dual education system.
The situation in which unemployment remains high while Nigerian entrepreneurs establish businesses elsewhere because skilled labour is scarce must be confronted decisively. Doing so is essential for the common good and for facilitating our transition from a consumption-driven economy to a production-driven one.
Character and civic education, emphasising the values that foster trust - an essential ingredient for enterprise and leadership - as well as shared national values, will receive significant attention within the tripartite approach to governance that we propose.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY MR. PETER OBI FOLLOWING HIS NOMINATION AS THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF THE NIGERIAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS(NDC) – MAY 30, 2026
Protocols,
Esteemed citizens of Nigeria,
It is with deep humility that I accept the role of presidential candidate for our party.
I express my profound gratitude to the leaders of our party. His Excellency Seriake Dickson, the National Chairman, National Secretary and the National Working Committee, NWC members and members of our relentless supporters, and the Nigerian populace who have steadfastly kept the spirit of hope alive. I commend those who have made the journey from every region of our nation to convene here in Abuja.
I wish to assert unequivocally: a New Nigeria is Possible. This conviction has united us; it must serve as our compass on the challenging road ahead and sustain us through all trials we may face. This pivotal moment transcends the individual ambitions of Peter Obi; it concerns the essence of our nation and the future of our children. It is about rekindling hope for millions who have faced adversity yet remain committed to Nigeria.
Today, our nation finds itself at a crucial juncture, enveloped in uncertainty. Families are anxious about their safety; parents are concerned for their children's futures; and talented youth increasingly question their prospects in their homeland.
Businesses are struggling, communities are suffering, and an alarming number of citizens have lost faith in the very concept of governance. Yet, I stand before you filled with optimism and strong faith in the resilience of our people, for I firmly believe that a New Nigeria is possible.
UNITY
To realise this New Nigeria, we must first mend the foundational elements essential for the success of any nation.
Nigeria cannot advance while fragmented by ethnic, religious, regional, or narrow political divides. We may communicate in different languages and practise diverse faiths, but we share a singular destiny under one flag. Our diversity should not be a source of division; rather, it is among our greatest strengths.
We should build bridges where others erect barriers, replace mistrust with confidence, division with understanding, and resentment with a collective purpose. A united Nigeria is indispensable. As Will Durant wisely pointed out, "A great civilisation is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within." We must never self-destruct. We must heal, unify, and progress together.
INSECURITY
In terms of security, the situation in Nigeria has considerably worsened. The global terrorism impact assessments ranked Nigeria as the 8th most affected nation in 2022, 6th in 2024, and 4th in 2026.
Yet, for many years, Nigeria garnered global recognition as a reliable contributor to peacekeeping, regional stabilisation, and conflict resolution. Our troops have not only displayed bravery but have also shown professionalism, discipline, resilience, and empathy in the most challenging operational contexts. Our officers and personnel have successfully commanded multiple international forthe ces, safeguarded vulnerable civilian populations, monitored ceasefires, reinstated constitutional order, and contributed to rebuilding efforts.
Nigeria became one of the leading contributors of troops from Africa to UN peacekeeping missions and earned widespread admiration for operational effectiveness and leadership in various countries, including Rwanda, Sudan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Western Sahara, Congo, Lebanon, Cambodia, Haiti, and Kuwait. At one pointin a Nigeria, Lt. General Isaac Obiakor (rtd) even led global peacekeeping initiatives.
We must address insecurity with resolve and urgency, for no nation can thrive while its citizens live in trepidation. The primary responsibility of the government is to ensure the safeguarding of lives and property.
The process that produced these results is so flawed from the grassroot. Could be a work in progress but it is not acceptable. You cannot change a wrong process by doing the wrong things. It's as simple as running in a circle.
FINAL OFFICIAL RESULTS – ADC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES
Atiku Abubakar: 1,846,370 votes
Rotimi Amaechi: 504,117 votes
Mohammed Hayatu-Deen: 177,120 votes
Total votes cast: 2,527,977
Total registered members: 3,113,599
INEC, International Observers and Party Leaders have commended the exercise as free, fair and credible.
ADC – Arise and Shine!!! 💪🇳🇬
@ARISEtv A Pastor that is not citing the level of insecurity in the land even with the one that just happened in a neighbouring state to him as the reason the country is dead. But what matters the most to him is the money rate. '1 million dollars pere'. Interesting!
Husband has two laptops
One was given to him as a Work from home tool by the foreign bank he is working with
The other was his personal laptop with him he handles his personal business.
Wife’s father died in Nigeria
Husband was not given leave at work to travel abroad
Wife was as given compassionate leave
Wife pleads with husband to please show his face at the funeral
Husband decided to take the risk
He mirrored the office laptop to his personal laptop
Left it connected in such a way that he can work on it remotely using his personal computer and travelled with the family to Nigeria for work
Wife was aware of the risk the husband took
The plan was to travel to Nigeria on Friday and return to London on Sunday
They got to Nigeria
The husband set up his personal laptop at the hotel so that if any work call or email comes in he would attend to it immediately
It worked
He was able to work remotely and he was in the UK on Saturday morning
After this he went to the burial rites, greeted members of the family and paid his respects to all and sundry
When he got back to their room he discovered his laptop was gone
It was not stolen
He could see from all the disconnections and wires lying around that his wife took it
He rushed to the car and drove furiously to the wife’s parent’s house to ask her for his laptop
When he got there, he saw that his wife had handed it over to her older brother who had connected it to some amplifiers to play some of their father’s Fåvourite music to entertain her family
He didn’t think it would be proper to disrupt such a solemn family moment
So he went back to the hotel and waited anxiously for them to be done and for his laptop to be returned.
At almost midnight, the laptop was returned
By then the husband has gotten two messages from his team lead asking him where he was because he missed some tasks and his laptop indicated that he was in Nigeria
He reconnected his laptop and tried very hard to do some damage control.
He was livid and he didn’t fail to say so to his wife
According to the wife he said “You betrayed my trust, you took my work computer without regards for my sacrifices and well being to play music in loving memory of your father. You could have hired a DJ or bought a laptop somewhere in Lagos.
You knew the risk I took to be at this event with you and you decide to expose me this way.
You better pray I don’t lose my job over this. If I as much as get a query, this marriage is over”
Wife said she didn’t think that far.
Her brother asked her if she brought her laptop because he had carefully made a selection of their father’s Fåvourite songs on a flash drive and would like to play it at the house after the funeral while his friends and family member were still around to commiserate with their mother.
She said she went to the room to see if she could borrow her husband’s laptop and met his absence. So she just took it.
Innocent mistake.
They got back to the UK and husband’s job was terminated.
Husband is asking for a divorce
Wife is saying jobs are replaceable, a marriage is not.
How can an innocent mistake be the cause of their divorce?
Husband says the wife has always been like that
Lacking an understanding of boundaries and willing to throw anybody under the bus to get her desired result in anything she wanted to do.
He had told her he couldn’t travel because his office didn’t permit him
She prevailed on him to take the risk and then destroyed his carefully built wall of protection by removing the laptop from its connection
Wife said she didn’t intend to do any harm.
Just to play some music with the laptop
Husband said wife is deflecting and moved out of their apartment
Wife is asking what the big deal is…
@UTDRico8 This is not Lammen's weakness. It is peculiar to all goalkeepers. Top corner goals are difficult to catch. The major work is on the defenders to stop it before it happens happen.
@TheUtdArchive I am just clueless on why his numerous mistakes, 'always complaining' attitudes + trying to tell his team mates how to play are being ignored.
Turning Nigeria Around: Insights from Global Engagements
My last engagement of 3-day trip to the USA was defining and enriching, including over two hours of lunch and a walk meeting with the distinguished Professor James Robinson, alongside Professors Korieh and Utomi.
Professor James Robinson was co-author of “Why Nations Fail” and a Nobel Laureate in Economics on “Prosperity of Nations”.
My interest in meeting him was stirred by one of his penetrating observations, that there are nations in the world which clearly know the path to prosperity, yet consistently fail to take it. Among his examples was Nigeria.
That remark struck me profoundly. It was not merely an academic statement but as a mirror held up to our nation. In our conversation, Professor Robinson reminded me that nations must possess the humility to remain learners if they are to advance. For me, the dialogue was both challenging and inspiring. It strengthened my conviction that Nigeria’s renewal requires difficult choices. With committed reforming and prioritising critical sectors of development, we can leapfrog our turnaround.
Earlier this year, in pursuit of similar insights, I visited Johns Hopkins University to meet Professor Peter M. Lewis, the author of “Growing Apart: Oil, Politics, and Economic Change in Indonesia and Nigeria.” His comparative study of Indonesia and Nigeria - two nations that began with similar trajectories but diverged so starkly - posed an unavoidable question: why did one move in the right direction while the other faltered? To seek answers, I travelled to Indonesia itself, where I held constructive engagements with six ministers, a former Vice President, and Indonesia's most Popular President Joko Widodo.
These encounters, across continents and with some of the finest minds and most experienced leaders, continue to deepen my conviction: Nigeria’s story is not a closed chapter of decline but an unfinished narrative with the potential for redemption.
With competent and visionary leadership - rooted in capacity, character, commitment, and compassion - Nigeria can still be transformed into a nation of pride, dignity, and prosperity.
A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO
@TelecelGhana is there a problem with your broadband network in Accra? LOS signal is active.
If there is, it will be an appropriate thing to inform your customers of whatever challenges rather than downing business for over 24hrs.
Amazing how a Pastor will insult the intelligence, reasonability and ability to use the eyes of his members and same people being insulted will be clapping. This is complete mind capture.