Former presidential candidate and ex-governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has raised serious concerns about the worsening state of Nigeria’s education sector, describing it as a national emergency that demands urgent intervention.
Speaking on Thursday, Obi lamented that millions of Nigerian children are out of school, while many who are enrolled lack the ability to read and write, highlighting what he called a fundamental failure in the country’s educational system.
“The recent data from the Universal Basic Education Commission shows over 20 million children out of school. Even more disturbing is the number of children who attend school but cannot read or write. This is unacceptable,” Obi said.
Citing the recent West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, Obi noted that only 38 percent of candidates passed — the worst performance in the last five years. He expressed disappointment over what he views as a consistent misplacement of national priorities.
“At a time when education should top our national agenda, we continue to pump trillions into infrastructure projects that contribute little to our development index,” he stated.
Obi criticised ongoing construction and renovation projects that, in his view, offer minimal value, while schools remain underfunded and classrooms abandoned.
“Our children deserve classrooms, not uncompleted or abandoned projects,” he asserted. “Education remains the most powerful investment any nation can make. If we continue to neglect our children, we are setting the nation up for failure.”
He urged governments at all levels to redirect funding toward building functional schools and ensuring access to quality education for every Nigerian child.
“A nation that abandons its young people is mortgaging its future,” Obi warned. “To secure a better tomorrow, we must start by investing in our children today.”
He called for a national rethink, urging policymakers to place education at the core of national development strategies, saying, “Only then can we build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Nigeria.”