Delight Chinedum

Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the recently released results of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

He described the abysmal performance as a reflection of Nigeria’s deteriorating education system.

In a statement released via his verified social media handle, Mr. Obi reacted to the data published by JAMB, which revealed that 1,955,069 candidates sat for the 2025 UTME. Out of this figure, only about 420,000 scored above 200, while over 1.5 million candidates scored below the 200-mark.

“This means that over 78% of the total candidates failed to meet the 200-mark threshold – a reflection of the deep-rooted challenges in our educational system,” Obi lamented.

He attributed this poor performance to long-standing neglect and underinvestment in the education sector, stressing that education must be repositioned as a cornerstone of national development.

“The latest JAMB results once again highlight the consequences of decades of underinvestment in education, a sector that should be central to our national development strategy,” he said.

Mr. Obi also drew comparisons between Nigeria and other countries with significantly stronger educational outcomes. He noted that Nigeria’s total university enrollment is currently about 2 million students. In stark contrast, Bangladesh’s National University, a single university, has an enrollment figure of over 3.4 million students, despite the country having only about 75% of Nigeria’s population.

“Bangladesh, which once lagged behind Nigeria in virtually every measurable development index, now surpasses us in all key areas of development and in the Human Development Index (HDI),” he remarked.

Citing another example, Obi referenced Turkey, which has a population of about 87.7 million but boasts more than 7 million university students — over three times Nigeria’s entire university enrollment.

He reiterated his long-standing position that education is not merely a social service but a strategic national investment.

“Education is the most critical driver of national development and the most powerful tool for lifting people out of poverty,” Obi asserted. “We must now invest aggressively in education at all levels if we are serious about building a prosperous, secure, and equitable Nigeria.”

Mr. Obi’s comments come at a time when stakeholders in the education sector continue to call for reforms, increased funding, and a comprehensive overhaul of the system to meet global standards and effectively prepare Nigerian youth for the future.