FORMER governor of Anambra State,  Mr. Peter Obi has counselled students of  secondary and tertiary institutions to  shun the craze for  celebration  of birthdays and  similar social  events now and  concentrate on their studies.

Ex-governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi

He gave this advice during his interaction with the students of  Holy Rosary College, Nsugbe  –  one of the schools slated to share from his 57th  birthday gifts. Mr. Obi had requested those who intended to give him birthday gifts to monetize such gifts, which he would donate to deserving schools and for other activities  that would contribute positively to society.

Obi, who presented a cheque of N1 million  to the  college  for continued infrastructure support,  said he was not against celebrations, but that at their current stage in life, what should be uppermost in their minds was how to succeed in the future and not how to celebrate birthdays  and the like  that would not add  any value to their lives now.

“I am here today to celebrate with you. I could have thrown a big party and call the whole world, but I said to myself: ‘What would such indulgence add to my life and those of the people around me?,” he noted.