Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed deep concern over the state of Nigeria’s education system following the dismal performance recorded in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), where over 78% of candidates scored below 200.
In a statement shared via his official social media platforms on Tuesday, Obi described the results as “a stark reflection of the entrenched challenges in our educational system,” referencing data released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
He noted that of the 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the examination, only about 420,000 scored above 200, leaving more than 1.5 million below that benchmark.
Obi blamed the poor performance on decades of neglect and underinvestment in education.
“The latest JAMB figures highlight the consequences of years of failing to prioritise education, a sector that ought to be the bedrock of our national development,” he stated.
Drawing comparisons with other countries, Obi said Nigeria now lags behind nations it once outpaced development indicators.
“Bangladesh, which once trailed Nigeria across virtually all measurable indices, now outperforms us in key areas, including the Human Development Index (HDI),” he remarked.
He added that while Nigeria has approximately two million students enrolled across its universities, Bangladesh’s National University alone accommodates over 3.4 million students, despite having just 75% of Nigeria’s population.
In contrast, Turkey, with a population of 87.7 million, has more than seven million students in tertiary institutions.
“Education is not merely a social obligation. It is a strategic investment — the most vital tool for national development and poverty alleviation,” Obi stressed.
He urged the federal government to take swift and comprehensive action by investing robustly in education across all levels to secure a prosperous and equitable future for the country.
