Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has marked his 65th birthday by donating ₦10 million to St. Raphael’s Hospital in Umueri, Anambra State, while urging Nigerians to embrace lives of service and compassion rather than extravagant celebrations.
Obi disclosed this in a lengthy message shared on his official X account on Sunday, where he reflected on his life’s journey, Nigeria’s socio-economic realities, and the importance of using personal milestones to positively impact others.
According to him, birthdays should be moments of gratitude to God, sober reflection and renewed commitment to serving humanity instead of occasions for lavish celebrations.
“Today, July 19, 2026, marks my 65th birthday. At sixty-five, birthdays should naturally become moments of deep reflection – moments to look back with gratitude to Almighty God for His abundant graces, examine the journey so far, and ask how the remaining years can be devoted more meaningfully to the service of God and humanity,” Obi wrote.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s current situation, the former governor said the country’s abundant resources have not translated into improved living conditions for many citizens, noting that millions still grapple with poverty, unemployment, poor healthcare and limited opportunities.
“We cannot afford to celebrate ourselves excessively while many around us are burdened by poverty, ill health, unemployment, and limited opportunities. Rather, occasions such as this should remind us of our responsibility to contribute towards building a nation where future generations can genuinely celebrate,” he said.
Obi explained that throughout his years in business, the corporate sector and public office, he had consistently viewed leadership and privilege as opportunities to improve the lives of others rather than avenues for personal comfort.
He recalled encouraging individuals and organisations that wished to honour him with gifts or elaborate ceremonies to instead channel such resources towards projects with lasting social impact, including schools, hostel blocks and other public facilities.
“The greatest honour anyone can receive is not found in gifts, ceremonies, or public admiration, but in knowing that one’s life has contributed, however modestly, to making another person’s life better,” he stated.
As part of activities marking his birthday, Obi said he attended a Mass of Thanksgiving in Onitsha before visiting St. Raphael’s Hospital in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area, where he presented a ₦10 million donation to support healthcare delivery.
He said the visit to the rural hospital reinforced his conviction that leadership is fundamentally about caring for people, particularly the vulnerable.
“As I was conducted around the hospital and saw patients in their moments of vulnerability, I was reminded again of our shared humanity. Some of those receiving care may not even have the financial means to settle their hospital bills, yet they deserve compassion, dignity, and access to quality healthcare. Their condition was a reminder that leadership, in its truest form, is about caring for people, especially those who cannot repay our kindness,” Obi said.
The former Anambra Governor also stressed the importance of investing in education and healthcare, describing both sectors as essential to national development.
“Hospitals and schools remain two of the greatest investments any society can make. A hospital preserves life; a school shapes the future. Supporting both is, therefore, not just an act of charity – it is an investment in humanity and in the future of our nation,” he added.
