Peter Obi raises concern over last minute cancellation of OAU university lectures

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Mr. Peter Obi has expressed concern over what he described as troubling developments in Nigeria’s academic institutions, following the sudden cancellation of his scheduled keynote lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

Obi said the invitation had been extended to him several months ago, with adequate preparations made, but he was informed at the last minute that the event would no longer hold. He noted that universities are regarded as “ivory towers” because they are meant to serve as centres of pure, isolated intellectual thought, warning that it is worrisome when they are pressured to operate outside this norm.

“Today, I was scheduled to be at Obafemi Awolowo University at 9 a.m. to deliver a keynote lecture, before proceeding to Ibadan for the opposition parties’ political summit at noon. Regrettably, I received the news that the event would no longer be held in the University as planned,” Obi stated.

He added that this was not an isolated incident, pointing out that similar cancellations had occurred more than ten times, including at his alma mater, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). He recalled that the inaugural memorial lecture in honour of late Vice Chancellor Prof. Frank Ndili was cancelled by the university authorities on the scheduled date.

“These are not merely personal inconveniences; they raise deeper questions about the kind of environment we are nurturing in our country. Universities are meant to be centres of learning, open dialogue, and the free exchange of ideas. When platforms for constructive engagement are repeatedly constrained, it reflects a worrying shift away from these ideals,” Obi said.

He contrasted the situation with his international engagements, noting that in the past 24 months he had delivered lectures at globally respected institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, and Imperial College. “Those environments continue to demonstrate openness to dialogue, critical thinking, and shared learning — values that should equally define our own institutions,” he added.

Obi, who is aspiring to Nigeria’s presidency under the mantra “A New Nigeria is Possible”, stressed that the country must ask itself what kind of nation it is building if spaces for intellectual engagement are shrinking. “Nigeria must work towards becoming a place where ideas thrive, where knowledge is shared without fear, and where our institutions uphold the principles they were established to protect,” he concluded.