The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, shared an experience from his time at the Kellogg Graduate School, where he said he questioned a professor for not discussing Africa during a course on the world economy despite paying $40,000 for the program.
Obi said the course focused on the world economy but that Africa was not mentioned for most of its duration.
According to him, “I was in Kellogg graduate school to do a 3-month course, and the dean of the school, who had been there since ’57, called Professor Donald Jacobs and took us on a course called ‘The World Economy.’
This was a 90-day course, and after two and a half months, almost 80 days, he never said anything about Africa, but he was teaching us world economy.”
“And that was his last day before he left the school. The last section before he leaves the school. So a day before the last day, I raised my hand.
I said, “Professor Donald, you haven’t said anything about the African economy.” He said, “Do I want to know about the African economy?” I said, “Yes, I’m from Africa.”
I paid $40,000 for this job for this, and you have not said anything about my continent. He said he will tell me tomorrow. Tomorrow is his last day.”
Obi explained that on the eve of the professor’s final class before leaving the school, he decided to raise the issue. He said he asked why Africa had not been included in discussions despite the course covering the global economy.
According to Obi, he reminded the professor that he had paid $40,000 for the program and wanted to learn about the economic realities of his continent. He added that the professor responded by saying he would address the question during the final class the following day.