Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, has called on governments at all levels to demonstrate stronger political will and decisiveness in tackling insecurity, stressing that the safety of schools and society must remain a national priority.

Obi made the remarks on Thursday during a visit to Practicing Nursery and Primary School, Agulu, Anambra State, where he also fulfilled a pledge to support the reconstruction of parts of the school destroyed by fire.

Speaking against the backdrop of recurring attacks on educational institutions and recent incidents involving the abduction of pupils and teachers in parts of the country, Obi said securing schools requires firm leadership and determined action.

“I tell you, we do not only need to secure our schools from insecurity but also the society. And how we can do this is by being decisive,” Obi said.

Drawing from his experience as a former governor, he added: “I have been in government before and we knew what we did to ensure safety in Anambra. It needs decisiveness and will power of the people in government for us to defeat them.”

The former Anambra governor emphasized that education remains central to national development, noting that the quality of a nation’s educational system often determines its pace of progress.

During the visit, Obi returned to Practicing Nursery and Primary School in his hometown of Agulu, described as one of the oldest primary schools in the area, founded in 1922. The institution suffered a devastating fire last year which destroyed a structure that had stood for over a century.

He recalled visiting the school shortly after the incident and promising support for rebuilding efforts aimed at providing pupils with a more conducive learning environment.

As part of that commitment, Obi presented an initial sum of ₦10 million to kick-start reconstruction work on the damaged structure.

According to him, rebuilding schools goes beyond erecting physical structures, saying it represents an investment in hope and the future of younger generations.

He also interacted with pupils during the visit and encouraged them to remain committed to their studies, stressing that discipline, hard work, and dedication are essential ingredients for success.

Obi said he was inspired by the enthusiasm and dreams of the children and reminded them that the future they desire begins with the choices they make today.

Obi was accompanied by professors Chinyere stella Okunna and Patrick Obi.

Caption for the picture

Mr. Peter Obi, presenting a ₦10 million cheque to the management and pupils of Practicing Nursery and Primary School, Agulu, to kick-start the reconstruction of the school’s historic structure destroyed by fire.