The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi has said Nigerians are highly talented and deeply productive but are being held backward by leadership failure.
He expressed worry in a Twitter (X) post on Thursday, while congratulating Professor Chika Unigwe, who recently earned two global honorary distinctions in Belgium.
Obi disclosed that Unigwe was decorated with a Knight of the Order of the Crown and recognized with a Proclamation/Oorkonde by the Christoffel Plantin Fonds in recognition of her artistic and literary contributions to the European nation.
The former Governor of Anambra state added that her iconic rise came as no surprise as he had always been confident in the highly creative and productive nature of Nigerians.
He wrote; “I am again exhilarated by the intriguing story of a Nigerian author, Prof @chikaunigwe, who recently earned two global honorary distinctions: the decoration of Knight of the Order of the Crown and recognition with a Proclamation/Oorkonde by the Christoffel Plantin Fonds, in recognition of her artistic and literary contributions to the nation of Belgium.
I recall meeting Chika Unigwe, for the first time, in 2012, when she won the NLNG-sponsored Nigerian prize for Literature with her book, “On Black Sisters Street.” I met her again recently in USA when I was the Keynote Speaker at The Chinua Achebe International Symposium and 10th Annual Memorial Celebration, held at the USA No 1 University Princeton University.
Prof Unigwe, through her many literary works, has continued to contribute to societal progress and advance the cause of humanity, by often touching on the very difficult social issues such as migration, human trafficking, marital abuse, the role of women in society, and so on.
Her iconic rise, therefore, comes as no surprise, as I have always expressed confidence in the highly creative and productive nature of Nigerians. We are a nation of highly talented, deeply productive, and undoubtedly progressive people, only held backward by leadership failure.
Again, what seems like a brain drain in our Nigerian society today, will eventually turn out to be our brain gain in the future, as I have maintained. The many heartwarming and inspiring stories of Nigerians making impacts on the global stage can signal the coming of New Nigeria when our global talents, will unite with our local talents to move our nation forward.
That is the New Nigeria I remain committed to. I congratulate Prof Chika Unigwe once again for this feat. I wish her more achievements as she, through hard work and dedication, continues to climb the ladder of success.”
