The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has highlighted the importance of Nigerian students abroad to national development, explaining that they are the bridge between Nigeria’s potential and its present reality.
Obi, who was a guest speaker, made the remark while addressing Nigerian students at Imperial College London on the theme “Bridging Worlds: Leadership and the Power to Inspire Change” on Wednesday.
He reminded the students of the resilience and brilliance that Nigeria continues to produce, noting that they live daily as a bridge between two contrasting realities — the Nigeria that nurtured them and the functional systems they now experience abroad.
“The real question before us is how to take the innovation, discipline, and efficiency they see abroad and channel them meaningfully into rebuilding our nation. For me, leadership begins with character, with who you are when no one is watching.
“When people ask how we were able to save money or cut waste during my time in office, the answer remains the same: I treated public funds as a sacred trust, because that is what they are. Integrity is not something you switch on when convenient; it is a way of life. Every leader must first build a bridge between their private values and their public actions,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Obi acknowledged that Nigeria is a challenging system, however, he stressed that no system transforms simply because citizens talk about its failures.
“They change when men and women with competence, courage, and integrity step forward and insist on doing things differently. Real change is not driven by noise; it is driven by example. When you choose to act differently, you shift expectations. When you refuse to cut corners, you raise the standard. You cannot transform a system you have already given up on, transformation begins with demonstrating that better is not only possible, but achievable,” he explained.
“Your education here is a privilege, one that millions of Nigerians may never have. The critical question is: What will you do with what you have learned? Whether you return home or contribute from abroad, Nigeria needs your creativity, your discipline, your global exposure, and your belief in what is possible. Functional societies are not accidents; they emerge from deliberate, consistent choices made by people who value progress.”
He urged them not to accept the idea that “this is how things are done in Nigeria”, emphasising that wrongdoing is not culture and corruption is not identity.
Obi also warned that if they lose their values, they lose their power to inspire change. “Stand firm. Lead by example. You may be surprised by how many others are waiting for someone, anyone to show that integrity is still possible.”
He added: “You are the bridge between Nigeria’s potential and its present reality; between what you experience here and what you know is achievable back home. And remember: bridges do not argue, they connect. Your task is to connect Nigeria to a brighter future through your ideas, your discipline, your values, and your leadership.”
He further expressed confidence that Nigeria will always remain in their hearts, urging them to carry their values into their actions, as that is how nations are rebuilt.
