‘I Can’t Celebrate My 65th Birthday While Nigerians Are Poor’ – Peter Obi

• The NDC’s 2027 presidential candidate says birthdays should be moments of reflection and service, not lavish celebrations, especially amid Nigeria’s economic hardship.

• Obi celebrates his birthday by supporting St. Raphael’s Hospital in Umueri, Anambra State, reaffirming his belief that service to humanity is the greatest celebration of life.

• The former Anambra governor says hospitals and schools remain the most critical investments for national development and improving citizens’ well-being.

• Obi says Nigeria’s abundant resources should translate into better living conditions, stressing that leadership must be measured by compassion and service to the vulnerable.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 General Election, Peter Obi, has marked his 65th birthday with a reflection on Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.

He declared that he could not celebrate lavishly while millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with poverty, unemployment, poor healthcare, and limited opportunities.

reports that instead of organising an elaborate birthday celebration, Obi marked the milestone with a Mass of Thanksgiving and a ₦10 million donation to St. Raphael’s Hospital, Umueri, in Anambra East Local Government Area, saying the greatest celebration of life lies in touching the lives of others.

In a statement titled “Reflections on My 65th Birthday,” released on Sunday, Obi said attaining the age of 65 had prompted him to reflect deeply on how the rest of his life could be devoted more meaningfully to the service of God and humanity.

“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,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor, noted that while birthdays may warrant elaborate celebrations in countries where citizens enjoy security, prosperity, and effective institutions, Nigeria’s present realities demand a different response.

According to him, despite the country’s enormous human and natural resources, millions of Nigerians remain trapped in poverty and continue to grapple with hardship, making extravagant celebrations inappropriate.

“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,” Obi stated.

He said birthdays should serve as opportunities for thanksgiving, sober reflection, and renewed commitment to serving humanity.

A Philosophy of Service

Obi explained that throughout his business career, the corporate world, and public office, he had consistently regarded every privilege as an opportunity to improve the lives of others rather than pursue personal comfort.

He disclosed that whenever individuals or organisations sought to celebrate him with expensive gifts or elaborate ceremonies, he encouraged them to redirect those resources to projects that would create lasting value for society.

According to him, that philosophy has, over the years, resulted in the construction of schools, hostel blocks, educational support projects, and other facilities that continue to benefit the less privileged.

“As I reflected today, I came to a simple conclusion: the greatest celebration of life is not what we receive from others, but the lives we can touch positively,” he said.

Obi added that the greatest honour anyone could receive was not measured by gifts or public recognition but by the positive impact made on the lives of others.

Thanksgiving and Hospital Donation

To commemorate his birthday, Obi said he began the day with a Mass of Thanksgiving in Onitsha, expressing gratitude to God for His grace, protection, guidance, and countless blessings over the years.

After the church service, he visited St. Raphael’s Hospital in Umueri, where he donated ₦10 million to support the hospital’s efforts to provide quality healthcare to residents of the community.

He described the donation as a practical demonstration of his conviction that birthdays should be occasions for service rather than self-indulgence.

While touring the hospital, Obi said interacting with patients reminded him of the enormous burden many Nigerians face in accessing quality healthcare.

He observed that some patients receiving treatment lacked the financial means to settle their hospital bills, yet deserved compassion, dignity, and access to quality medical care.

“Their condition was a reminder that leadership, in its truest form, is about caring for people, especially those who cannot repay our kindness,” he said.

Investing in Humanity

Obi reiterated his long-standing belief that healthcare and education remain the two most important investments any nation can make.

According to him, hospitals preserve lives while schools shape the future, making support for both sectors an investment in humanity and national development rather than mere acts of charity.

“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 stated.

Obi urged political leaders, corporate organisations, and wealthy Nigerians to channel more resources toward improving the welfare of ordinary citizens, particularly the poor and vulnerable.

He concluded by thanking God for the gift of life and reaffirming his commitment to a lifetime of service, expressing hope that Nigeria would become a country where every citizen has access to quality education, affordable healthcare, meaningful employment, and opportunities to thrive.