Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has weighed in on the growing controversy over claims that about $5 million was spent on the foreign education of children linked to a top public official, at a time when millions of Nigerian children are out of school.
Obi said the issue goes beyond private family choices and touches directly on public responsibility, especially in a country battling deep educational inequality and poverty.
He stressed that such figures naturally raise concerns when placed side by side with Nigeria’s alarming number of out-of-school children.
The former Anambra State governor made his position known in a statement titled “The Farouk Controversy and the Question of Public Responsibility,” which he shared on his official X handle on Monday.
Obi was reacting to claims credited to businessman Aliko Dangote, who alleged that the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, spent about $5 million on the secondary education of his four children in Switzerland. Dangote had also called for a full investigation and public explanation over the matter.
“At current exchange rates, $5 million is approximately N7.5 billion. In a country with over 18 million out-of-school children the highest number in the world such allegations raise questions about proportionality, public trust, and moral responsibility,” Obi wrote.
He clarified that the conversation was not about criticising parents who invest in their children’s education. According to him, the concern lies in the scale of spending and the broader national context in which it occurs, particularly when it involves a public office holder.
“Education is one of the greatest legacies a parent can give a child. No reasonable person begrudges parents for investing in their children’s future,” Obi stated.
“The concern here is the moral implication when such resources exist alongside massive educational deprivation.”
Obi went further to outline what he described as a realistic alternative use of N7.5 billion if such funds were channelled into Nigeria’s education sector. He explained that the amount could be used to construct 25 standard school blocks at an estimated cost of N35 million each, with capacity to educate about 6,000 students every year.
He added that each school block could engage at least 18 teachers, translating to employment opportunities for about 450 teachers across the country. With a proposed monthly salary of N125,000 per teacher, Obi noted that the total annual wage bill would stand at about N675 million.
According to him, after covering construction costs and first-year salaries, the remaining funds could be invested in government bonds.
The returns, he said, would be sufficient to handle school maintenance, learning materials, utilities, meals, and recurring staff salaries, creating a sustainable education model.
“In simple terms, the amount allegedly spent on the education of four children could establish a self-funding education ecosystem that educates 6,000 Nigerian children every year and employs 450 teachers,” Obi said.
The former governor restated his long-standing belief that those entrusted with public office must be guided by prudence, accountability, and a strong moral compass, particularly in a country facing severe social and economic pressures.
He warned that public confidence in governance is weakened when actions, or perceived actions, of public officials appear disconnected from the everyday realities of citizens.