Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has decried the alarming decline in Nigeria’s education standards, describing the recently released 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results as a stark indicator of systemic failure in the sector.
Obi, who made his position known via a statement shared on his verified social media account, said the dismal performance of candidates reflects the long-standing neglect and chronic underfunding of education in the country.
According to official figures released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), out of the 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, only about 420,000 scored above 200 — the benchmark out of a possible 400.
This means over 78 per cent of candidates failed to meet the threshold, a trend Obi described as deeply troubling.
“These results highlight the consequences of decades of underinvestment in education, a sector that should be central to our national development strategy,” Obi stated.
Drawing comparisons with other countries, Obi noted that Nigeria’s total university enrollment hovers around two million students, while Bangladesh’s National University alone accommodates over 3.4 million, despite the country having just 75 per cent of Nigeria’s population.
He further pointed to Turkey — a country with a population of approximately 87.7 million — which boasts over seven million university students, more than triple Nigeria’s figure.
“Bangladesh, which once lagged behind Nigeria in virtually every measurable development index, now surpasses us in all key areas, including the Human Development Index (HDI),” he said.
Reiterating his belief in education as the cornerstone of national progress, Obi called for a paradigm shift in policy thinking and public investment.
“Education is the most critical driver of national development and the most powerful tool for lifting people out of poverty. If we are serious about building a prosperous, secure, and equitable Nigeria, we must invest aggressively in education at all levels,” he asserted..
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