Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has revealed that his upbringing was heavily influenced by his parents’ involvement in trading, particularly his mother, who played a significant role in shaping his values and entrepreneurial mindset.
Speaking in a video shared by Advocacy For Good Governance, Obi recounted how he was introduced to business from an early age through his family background. According to him, both of his parents were traders, and this environment exposed him to commerce while he was still a child.
Obi explained that he has limited memories of his father because he passed away during the Nigerian Civil War. As a result, much of his upbringing was handled by his mother, whom he credited with teaching him important life lessons and work ethics that later influenced his personal and professional journey.
He noted that he frequently accompanied his mother to her shop, observing her daily activities and learning the fundamentals of trading firsthand. These experiences, he said, helped him develop an interest in business at a young age and laid the foundation for his future ventures.
The former Anambra State governor disclosed that he began engaging in trading activities while still in secondary school and continued to build on those experiences during his university years. He emphasized that the lessons he learned from his mother extended beyond business and contributed significantly to his character development.
In his words: “My mother was a trader, my father was a trader. So from my early days I learnt to trade. I didn’t know much of my father because he died during the civil war. We men might not teach you a lot but once you are close to your mom you will learn a lot. I see my mother go to trade every day, I follow her to her store and I started trading even before I got involved in my university days and in secondary school.”
You can watch the video from 7:51 to 8:38
