Politics
By Peter Obi
TODAY, in Enugu, I joined other Nigerians of goodwill in celebrating a great mind—an accomplished scientist, innovator, and one of the pioneers of the E-Design concept—Prof. Barth Nnaji, as he marked his 70th birthday.
The tributes paid to Prof. Nnaji by friends, associates, and admirers reflected the profound impact he has made in engineering, academia, public service, and the power sector.
The occasion also brought back fond memories of my interactions with Prof. Nnaji, especially during my tenure as Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum. We worked closely together on the ambitious initiative to assume greater responsibility for power in the South-East, driven by our shared conviction that reliable electricity remains one of the strongest foundations for economic growth, industrialisation, and job creation. His depth of knowledge, clarity of vision, and practical approach left a lasting impression on all of us.
May Prof. Nnaji’s light continue to shine ever more brightly.
From Enugu, I travelled to Lagos to attend the inspiring 23rd Inaugural Lecture, “The End of Development Economics,” delivered by one of our country’s promising young intellectuals, Prof. Alpheus Bongo Chimaeze Adi of Pan-Atlantic University. The lecture addressed many important issues relating to economics and development.
I first met Prof. Adi during my 2022 presidential campaign. Even then, he distinguished himself as one of our outstanding young intellectuals, demonstrating a profound understanding of economics and development issues.
It was a fitting celebration of two remarkable minds from different generations, whose lives have been defined by excellence, innovation, patriotism, and commitment to Nigeria’s development.
A.I
July 17, 2026
Tags: Prof. Alpheus Bongo Chimaeze Adi