The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election and former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi has donated N75 million to support the building of a College of Nursing Sciences by the Annunciation Hospital Health Scheme, owned by the Congregation of Daughters of Divine Love, Enugu.

Obi said the donation included his own money and the contributions of a philanthropist Professor Godwin Ozuo who donated $50,000.

“They want to build a college for that and I want to partner with them in that direction,” Obi said while handing over the cheque for the money to the management of the Congregation of Daughters of Divine Love.

He said the donation will help increase the number of healthcare professionals available in the country.

“This donation is towards to boost the number of healthcare professionals in the country,”

The 2023 Labour Party Presidential candidate added that donation is in huge appreciation of what the congregation of daughters of divine love are doing in the area of helping to build a better society.

He said: “If you look at the wonderful works they are doing, I have to support them.

“And in line with that, I have been going round talking to friends to help, especially now that they have the intention of building a college of nursing sciences which is critical if you consider the future.

“Nigeria today lacks basic medical care workers and nursing is number one.

“I have also spoken to somebody I consider very committed to building a better nation and his contribution is immeasurable in supporting such things globally and is now doing so. He is Prof Godwin Ozuo who donated $50,000, which is N60 million, to make the money up”.

Obi noted that no true Nigerian should be exhausted about building a better society, adding: “We have to get involved because things are becoming more difficult.”

He said there was a huge need to support what voluntary agencies like the Daughters of Divine Love are doing.

“They have paid huge bills people cannot pay in this hospital. They also have other facilities they run, where they provide education and they are doing this selflessly,” he added.

Responding, Sister Annastasia Dike, the Superior General of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Love, said “if we had started looking for this money ourselves, maybe in years we may not be able to realise it because of the economic situation of the country.”

Dike said: “People are not even willing to give because they don’t have. This is how difficult it is. We are doing this as part of our intention to raise a college of nursing sciences.

“Of course, you can see how acute the shortage of health personnel is here in Nigeria now because people are leaving the country to look for greener pastures and do you blame them?”

She appreciated the philanthropic gestures of Obi and Prof. Ozuo for their donation; while promising judicious use of the money and construction of buildings for the college commencing within days.

(NAN)