Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, has expressed his delight to read the inspiring success stories of Nigerians making outstanding impacts in their respective fields of endeavour on the national and global stage.
The former Anambra State governor said his desire is to see a new and productive Nigeria.
Chronicle NG reports that Obi acknowledged three notable Nigerians, Philip Ozuah, Adebayo Ogunlesi, and Tope Awotona, for making giant strides as immigrants.
Obi, in a statement on his verified X handle on Friday, said, “It is my habit to celebrate such Nigerians in order to spur more youths to do even more.”
“Just recently, I watched a video where my beloved friend and brother, President and CEO of Montefiore Medicine, United States of America, Prof. Philip Ozuah, received the Freeing Voices, Changing Lives Award by the American Institute of Stuttering in 2023. As a professor of paediatrics, teacher, and author, Prof. Ozuah’s organisation is reported to have at least 10,000 physicians and 53,000 employees and serves an average of 7.5 million patients a year. As a Nigerian committed to societal growth, he earlier donated $1 million to the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Obi disclosed.”
“Also this year, Nigerian investment banker Adebayo Ogunlesi, through his company, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), signed a $12.5 billion deal with BlackRock, the biggest asset management company in the world. With this deal, Ogunlesi and his co-founders at GIP are now the second-biggest shareholders at BlackRock. Mr. Ogunlesi also, through his organisation, oversaw the acquisition of London’s Gatwick Airport, London’s second-largest international airport, from the British Airports Authority in 2009. Similarly, a young Nigerian man, the founder and CEO of Calendly, a scheduling software company, Tope Awotona, was named by Forbes as the richest immigrant residing in the United States.”
“Born and brought up in Nigeria, these Nigerians, despite the challenges of life, have risen to become global figures and are making significant impacts in the world of education, health, business, technology, and finance.”
“They not only bring honour to our nation, but they inspire our youths through their success stories by reflecting the spirit of hard work, commitment to duty, pursuit of excellence, and desire to rise above one’s challenges.”
“I appreciate their many contributions to our nation and humanity. People like them continue to strengthen my belief in the possibility of a New Nigeria, where our teeming youths, with their energy and talents, given the right education, will lead the world, Obi added.”
