Former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised the alarm over the deteriorating state of Nigeria’s education system, calling it a national emergency that demands urgent intervention.
Responding to a recent report by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) which revealed that over 20 million Nigerian children are currently out of school, Obi described the figures as unacceptable and indicative of systemic neglect.
“These numbers are not just statistics; they represent futures being lost every day,” Obi said. “Even among those enrolled, far too many cannot read or write at a basic level.”
Citing the latest WAEC results, Obi noted that only 38% of students passed the WASSCE, the lowest pass rate in five years. “This is not just a decline in academic performance it’s a sign that the system is broken,” he added.
Obi criticised the government’s spending priorities, questioning the rationale behind allocating trillions to infrastructure projects while education remains grossly underfunded.
“At a time when education should be our top priority, we continue to spend massively on projects that often bring little meaningful impact,” he said. “Meanwhile, our schools are in disrepair, and children are left behind.”
He decried the growing number of abandoned or poorly executed government projects, particularly in the education sector. “Our children need functional classrooms, not crumbling, forgotten buildings.”
Calling for a national rethink, Obi urged policymakers to redirect resources toward revitalising public schools and ensuring equitable, quality education for every child.
“Education is the greatest investment we can make in our country’s future,” he said. “A nation that neglects its youth is a nation with no future. If we continue to fail our children, we are ultimately failing Nigeria.”
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