Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has backed Nigerian nurses seeking greener pastures abroad, declaring there is nothing wrong.
He expressed this sentiment while donating N20 million to St. Charles Borromeo College of Nursing and Midwifery in Onitsha on Monday.
Of the donation, N10 million will go to the midwifery department and N10 million to the nursing department.
Obi emphasised the importance of education and health, describing them as the currencies with which people will transact business in the future.
The former Anambra State Governor noted that with Nigeria’s population exceeding 200 million, there is no need to restrict individuals from travelling abroad for better opportunities.
Instead, he argued that the focus should be on training more professionals and allowing them to seek work abroad, as their foreign remittances can contribute to the nation’s revenue.
“What we are doing is not charity, but an investment in you. We need to invest in knowledge and health because it is the future. Investing in you will ensure your greatness. Your profession is lucrative, and you are being sought after all over the world,” Obi said.
He further stated, “I have told the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria not to deny anyone seeking to leave Nigeria for better opportunities.
“Our nurses abroad will remit their earnings back to the country. Let those who want to go out do so, and let those who wish to stay here remain, as diaspora remittance is also a form of revenue generation.”
He added, “If you see me going around donating to educational and health institutions, it is because we want to make life better for you all. I came here to donate to you.
“It is not proper for children not to have the opportunity to attend university while I sit down and add more chieftaincy titles to my name. That is not how to develop the future.”
He promised that he would visit a hospital in Anyingba, Kogi State, on Tuesday to assist with accreditation requirements, followed by a similar visit to Kaduna State on Wednesday.