Peter Obi Reacts to Alarming JAMB Results: A Wake-Up Call for Nigeria’s Education Sector

 

Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has raised a red flag over the deteriorating state of Nigeria’s education system following the release of the latest results by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). In a strongly worded response, Obi described the outcome as a glaring reflection of the systemic failure plaguing the country’s educational landscape.

According to the statistics released by JAMB, a total of 1,955,069 candidates registered and sat for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Shockingly, only about 420,000 candidates managed to score above 200 out of a total of 400 marks — a benchmark often considered the minimum for entry into many tertiary institutions. The remaining over 1.5 million candidates fell below this threshold.

"This means that over 78 percent of the total candidates failed to meet the 200 mark threshold, a reflection of the deep-rooted challenges in our educational system," Obi stated.

For the former Anambra State governor, these results are not just disappointing — they are symptomatic of a much deeper crisis that has been festering for decades. He attributed the widespread underperformance to the chronic neglect and underfunding of the education sector by successive administrations.

"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 added.

To underscore the urgency of the situation, Obi drew comparisons between Nigeria and other countries that have made significant investments in education and are now reaping the benefits. He pointed to Bangladesh — a country with about 75 percent of Nigeria’s population — which has managed to enroll more than 3.4 million students in its National University system alone.

"Currently, Nigeria's total university enrollment stands at approximately 2 million students. By comparison, the National University of Bangladesh, a single university, has over 3.4 million students enrolled, despite the country having only about 75 percent of Nigeria’s population. One university in Bangladesh surpasses the entire university enrollment in Nigeria," Obi noted.

He didn’t stop there. Obi also referenced Turkey as another example of a country that has made massive strides in education and human capital development. Despite having a smaller population than Nigeria — about 87.7 million people — Turkey boasts over 7 million university students, more than three times Nigeria’s total university enrollment.

"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," he said.

"Turkey, with a population of about 87.7 million people, has over 7 million university students, more than three times Nigeria’s total university enrollment."

These comparisons, Obi argued, are not just numbers. They are evidence that deliberate policy choices, investment, and prioritization can transform a nation’s educational outcomes — and by extension, its future.

In closing, Obi reaffirmed his core belief that education is the single most powerful catalyst for national transformation.

"I have consistently said it, education is not just a social service, it is a strategic investment. It is the most critical driver of national development and the most powerful tool for lifting people out of poverty."

He issued a clarion call to Nigerian leaders at all levels to treat education as a national emergency, stressing the need for a comprehensive and aggressive investment strategy.

"We must now invest aggressively in education at all levels if we are serious about building a prosperous, secure, and equitable Nigeria."