Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has called on Nigerians in the diaspora to play an active role in rebuilding their country, following his appearance yesterday as a guest speaker at in the United Kingdom.
Speaking on the theme “Bridging Worlds: Leadership and the Power to Inspire Change,” Obi described Nigeria as a “challenging system” but stressed that meaningful transformation does not come from complaints alone, but from action driven by “competence, courage, and integrity.”
During the event, Obi interacted with Nigerian students studying abroad, whom he described as a constant reminder of the nation’s “resilience and brilliance.” He noted that they exist between two worlds — the Nigeria that raised them and the functional systems they now experience — and challenged them to become a bridge between both realities.
According to him, the real task ahead is how to transfer the discipline, innovation, and efficiency seen abroad into the rebuilding of Nigeria.
Obi emphasized that leadership starts with personal character, insisting that integrity must be consistent both in private and in public life. Reflecting on his time in office, he said he handled public funds as a “sacred trust,” explaining that accountability and honesty should be a way of life, not a convenient choice.
He said true change is driven by example, not by noise, adding that when leaders refuse to cut corners, they raise the standard for others to follow. “You cannot transform a system you have already given up on,” he stated, noting that progress begins when people prove that improvement is possible.
Addressing the students directly, Obi reminded them that their education is a privilege many Nigerians do not have. He challenged them to decide how they would use the knowledge they have gained, whether by returning home or contributing from abroad. He maintained that Nigeria needs their creativity, discipline, and exposure to global best practices.
He also rejected the idea that corruption is part of Nigerian identity, stating that wrongdoing should never be accepted as culture. “If you lose your values, you lose your power to inspire change,” he warned, urging students to stand firm and lead by example.
Obi concluded by describing Nigerians abroad as a vital link between the nation’s potential and its current state, encouraging them to connect Nigeria to a better future through ideas, values, and leadership.
He reaffirmed his belief in the country’s future, declaring that a new Nigeria is not only desirable, but possible.
