The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has donated N75 million to the Annunciation Hospital Health Scheme owned by the Congregation of Daughters of Divine Love, Enugu.

“This donation is towards building a College of Nursing Sciences to boost the number of healthcare professionals in the country,” Obi said on Sunday in Enugu while handing over a cheque for the amount to the Congregation of Daughters of Divine Love.

According to him, the 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 which nursing is number one. They want to build a college for that and I want to partner with them in that direction.

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

Mr 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 such as 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, Superior General of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Love, Sister Annastasia Dike, 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.”

Ms 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 Mr 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)