Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has been honoured with the “Most Outstanding Pillar of Foundation Award” by the management of Immaculate Heart of Mary Specialist Hospital for his charity work in public health and educational institutions in Anambra state.
The award was conferred on him during the official opening of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Specialist Hospital built by the Sisters of Immaculate Heart Congregation.
The former Anambra state governor in statement reiterated that for the country to move forward and join the league of developing nations of the world, public funds must be channeled to the public good, not to private interest.
He noted that any nation that takes education and the health of its citizens with utmost priority can be counted among the developed and will as well achieve more of its potential.
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Obi who also presented a cheque of N2 million naira to the hospital management, lauded the Mother General of the Congregation, Mary-Claude Oguh, and the Sisters for their dedication, care, and prudent management of resources.
He recalled that when he made monetary donations to the Hospital in 2013 as governor for the foundation of the ultramodern hospital, and expressed satisfaction that the management judiciously applied the fund and also maximized other opportunities and funds at their hospital to take the project to completion, which is being celebrated presently.
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Obi also requested prayers for Nigeria and the political class so that leaders can do the right thing at all times. He also urged that the Rev. Sisters should be included in the scheme of things while looking for project execution in government since they have justified the confidence reposed in them with the judicious utilization of funds made available to them.
“I have always advocated for one thing- that public funds are used for the public good and not for private gains. When I gave you the first cheque years back, I never knew you will complete this. The church has shown consistency as better managers of money than the government”
Mother General of the Congregation, Mary-Claude Oguh, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Sr. Maria Nkiruka Okafor in their separate addresses eulogized Obi for his foresight and magnanimity as governor of Anambra State, confirming that it was his monetary donation that laid the foundation for the hospital.