Our Reporter, Abuja
Frontline African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential aspirant and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has raised concerns over what he described as political interference in Nigeria’s academic institutions, following the cancellation of a lecture he was scheduled to deliver at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Saturday.
In a statement, Obi said he was billed to deliver a keynote address at the university at 9 a.m. before proceeding to Ibadan for a political summit, but was informed at short notice that the event would no longer hold on campus.
“I was scheduled to be at Obafemi Awolowo University at 9 a.m. prompt to deliver a keynote lecture, an invitation extended to me several months ago with adequate preparations already made. Regrettably, I received the news that the event would no longer be held in the university as planned,” he said.
Obi linked the development to what he described as a recurring pattern, alleging that similar cancellations have occurred multiple times across Nigerian universities.
“While such occurrences may be dismissed in isolation, this has now happened more than ten times. This is no longer incidental; it points to a troubling pattern that should concern all well-meaning Nigerians,” he stated.
He cited a previous case at University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where a planned lecture in honour of former Vice Chancellor, Frank Ndili, was cancelled on the scheduled date.
“My alma mater was not excluded. The family of the late Professor Frank Ndili had planned an annual lecture in his honour, but on the scheduled date, it was cancelled by the university authorities,” he added.
According to Obi, the repeated disruptions raise broader concerns about the state of academic freedom in the 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,” he said.
He contrasted the situation with his experiences abroad, noting that he had delivered lectures at institutions such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton University, where academic discourse remains open.
“In the past 24 months, I have spoken and interacted freely with students and scholars in leading institutions across the world. These environments continue to demonstrate openness to dialogue, critical thinking, and shared learning—values that should equally define our own institutions,” he said.
Obi warned that shrinking spaces for intellectual engagement could hinder national development.
“We must ask ourselves what kind of nation we are building if spaces meant for intellectual engagement are gradually shrinking. A country’s progress is anchored on its ability to encourage knowledge, debate, and the contest of ideas, not restrict them,” he stated.
He called on stakeholders to safeguard the autonomy of universities and uphold their founding principles.
“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,” Obi said.
