Peter Obi – Politics
| Stage Name: | Peter Obi |
| Real Name: | Peter Gregory Obi |
| Occupation: | Politician |
| Date Of Birth/Age: | 19th July 1961 (64 years) |
| State of Origin: | Anambra State, Nigeria |
| Gender: | Male |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Marital Status: | Margaret Brownson Usen (Wife) |
| Education: | University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) |
| Known for: | Politics |
Early Life
Peter Gregory Obi was born on July 19, 1961, in Onitsha, a town in Anambra State, Nigeria . He came from an Igbo family and grew up in a Catholic home. He was the eldest of seven children and nicknamed “Okwute” (which means “rock” in Igbo), because he was seen as strong and dependable.
Educational Background
Peter Obi went to Christ the King College in Onitsha for his secondary school education. He finished school there in about 1978. After secondary school, he studied at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1984.
But Obi did not stop learning. He attended several top schools around the world:
- Lagos Business School in Nigeria, where he completed a Chief Executive Program
- Harvard Business School in the United States, studied leadership and marketing programs
- London School of Economics (LSE), studied financial management and business policy
- Columbia Business School (in New York), for marketing management training
- International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland, where he completed Senior Executive and Chief Executive programsHe also attended Kellogg School of Management (USA), Oxford and Cambridge business schools for other executive courses
These studies gave Obi important skills in leadership, financial management, business policy, and marketing.
Career
Business Career
After university, Peter Obi began working in business. He joined his family trading business, importation, and distribution of goods like beverages. He later held roles in several companies:
- Next International Nigeria Ltd (his own company importing goods)
- Fidelity Bank (became one of its youngest chairmen)
- Guardian Express Bank, Future View Securities, Chams Nigeria, DataCorp Nigeria, and others .
He earned good money from these business roles and investments in banking, trading, real estate, and manufacturing.
Political Career
Peter Obi joined politics in 2002 and ran for Governor of Anambra State in 2003 under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) party. Though the election result was disputed, after a long court case he was declared the winner in March 2006.
He was impeached by the state assembly in November 2006, but he appealed and the courts reinstated him in February 2007. He won a second full term and served until March 2014, making him governor for about eight years.
As governor, Obi was praised for:
- Reducing state debt by over 90% and leaving money in the state treasury when he left office.
- Improving education, by upgrading schools, returning some schools to missions, and making Anambra perform among the top in WAEC exams.
- Upgrading health care, building health facilities, providing ambulances, and improving immunization rates.
- Building infrastructure, such as roads and government offices, with careful use of money.
- Ensuring security and good governance, working with security agencies and bringing trust back to Anambra State.
In 2019, he was the vice-presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He ran with Atiku Abubakar but did not win.
In 2022, he moved to the Labour Party and announced his presidential candidacy for the 2023 election. His campaign attracted strong support from Nigerian youths, called the “Obidients” . Although he did not win the presidency, he surprised many by polling strongly as a third‑force candidate.
Personal Life
Peter Obi married Margaret Brownson Usen in 1992. They have two children: Gabriella Nwamaka Frances Obi and Gregory Peter Oseloka Obi. His family is devoutly Catholic, and faith is important in their life.
Despite being wealthy, Obi is known to live simply. In one kind story from 2009, he refused to buy an expensive suit and instead donated the money to charity. He has done many philanthropic activities, like donations to schools, scholarships, supporting small businesses, artisans, women, and health causes like polio eradication.
Obi has received many awards for his leadership. For example:
- Man of the Year by The Sun in 2007
- Most Prudent Governor in Nigeria by ThisDay in 2009
- Best Performing Governor on Immunization in Southeast by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2012
- Governor of the Decade by ThisDay in 2020
- Man of the Year by Leadership Excellence Awards in 2022.
Social Media Presence
Peter Obi uses social media to reach people and share his vision for Nigeria. Official accounts include:
- Twitter: @PeterObi
- Facebook: @PeterObiOfficial
- Instagram: @PeterObi.
In 2022, data showed he had about 1.9 million followers on Twitter, making him one of the most followed Nigerian politicians at that time.
He shares news about his campaigns, his ideas for Nigeria, and his charitable works on his pages. Because he is active and open, many people see him as transparent and trustworthy.
Net Worth
- In 2024, his net worth was around $10 million (about ₦82 billion at that time)
- By 2025, his net worth is estimated to be about ₦86 billion, which is roughly $58 million USD.
Most of his wealth comes from:
- Owning Next International Nigeria Ltd, involved in importing consumer goodsHolding leadership roles and shares in banks and securities firms, such as Fidelity Bank and Guardian Express Bank
- Real estate, with properties in Onitsha, Lagos (Ikoyi), Abuja (Asokoro), and London
- Foreign investments and accounts, some in the UK and offshore trusts Public speaking, book royalties, and media appearances.
Still, Obi is known for living modestly, avoiding lavish spending, despite being wealthy. His supporters say he shows what responsible leadership and frugality can be.
