Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed serious concern over the recurring pattern of last-minute cancellations of his scheduled lectures at Nigerian universities, describing it as a threat to academic freedom and open intellectual discourse.
Key Incident at Obafemi Awolowo University
In a statement released on Saturday, Obi revealed that he was set to deliver a keynote lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife at 9:00 a.m., prior to attending an opposition parties' political summit in Ibadan at noon. The event, which had been planned for a long time, was abruptly called off by the university authorities.
Recurring Pattern of Cancellations
Obi noted that this incident is not isolated, claiming that similar cancellations have occurred more than ten times across various institutions. His alma mater, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), was also affected: the family of the late Professor Frank Ndili, a renowned nuclear physicist and former Vice-Chancellor, had organized an annual lecture in his honor, with Obi invited to deliver the inaugural edition. That event too was canceled on the scheduled date.
“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,” Obi stated.
Threat to Academic Freedom
Obi emphasized that universities are traditionally regarded as “ivory towers” — centers for pure intellectual thought, open dialogue, and the free exchange of ideas. The repeated disruptions, he argued, reflect a worrying departure from these foundational ideals.
Contrast with International Engagements
Obi contrasted the situation in Nigeria with his international engagements. Over the past 24 months, he has freely delivered lectures and interacted with students and scholars at prestigious institutions including Oxford University, Cambridge University, Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, and Imperial College London.
“Those environments continue to demonstrate openness to dialogue, critical thinking, and shared learning — values that should equally define our own institutions,” he said.
Call for Reflection and Action
Obi urged Nigerians to reflect deeply: “What kind of nation are we 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 called on authorities to protect Nigerian universities as platforms where ideas can thrive without fear, in line with their core principles. Concluding his remarks, he expressed optimism: “Nigeria must work towards becoming a place where ideas thrive… A New Nigeria is POssible.”
As of press time, neither OAU nor UNN had issued official statements regarding the cancellations.
