Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has visited the Sheikh Muhammad Sambo Memorial Islamic Institute in Rigachikun, Kaduna State, where he commended the institution for combining Islamic education with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subjects.
Obi made the visit shortly after returning to Nigeria from London. According to a statement shared by the former Anambra State governor, he arrived in Abuja aboard an Air Peace flight and proceeded immediately to Kaduna.
He said the flight arrived about 20 minutes ahead of schedule, allowing him to continue his journey to Kaduna shortly after landing in the Federal Capital Territory.
The politician said the Kaduna institution was not new to him, noting that he had visited it twice previously and had supported its activities in his personal capacity.
Obi said he was impressed by the progress recorded by the institute, particularly its educational model, which combines Islamic studies with STEM disciplines.
He described the approach as a form of holistic education capable of giving young Nigerians both moral grounding and the scientific and technical knowledge needed to navigate the modern world.
“I was very impressed by the level of progress the institution has made, particularly its approach to blending Islamic education with STEM subjects,” Obi said.
He added that an education system that combines strong values with relevant knowledge and skills could better prepare young people for the demands of a changing economy and society.
The visit placed particular emphasis on the role of education in developing Nigeria’s human capital. Obi said investment in education and healthcare remained central to his approach to national development.
He also linked human-capital development to the need to create more opportunities for Nigerians and reduce poverty.
“My commitment remains to investing in education and healthcare, developing our human capital, creating opportunities, and lifting our people out of poverty,” he said.
Obi further stressed the importance of national inclusion, saying Nigerians should feel a sense of belonging irrespective of their religious, ethnic, regional or political backgrounds.
“Every Nigerian, regardless of religion, ethnicity, region, or political affiliation, deserves to feel that this country belongs to them,” he said.
His comments came amid continued political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, in which Obi is expected to contest the presidency under the NDC platform.
The Kaduna visit also drew attention to the role of faith-based institutions in providing education that extends beyond religious instruction. The institute’s integration of STEM subjects offers an example of an educational model that seeks to combine traditional learning with contemporary scientific and technological disciplines.
Obi’s emphasis on the model reflects the broader argument that Nigerian youths require both academic and practical skills to participate effectively in a technology-driven economy.
Education and healthcare have remained among the issues frequently highlighted by Obi in his public engagements. During the Kaduna visit, however, he connected these sectors more broadly to human-capital development, opportunity creation and poverty reduction.
The visit also carried a message of inclusion, with Obi stressing that national development should encompass citizens across religious, ethnic, regional and political lines.
He concluded his message by restating his familiar call for a better Nigeria, saying, “A New Nigeria is POssible.”
The Kaduna engagement therefore combined a personal visit to an institution he said he had supported previously with a broader discussion on education, human-capital development and national inclusion as Nigeria continues preparations for the 2027 elections.
