Former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has raised alarm over the dismal performance in the recently released 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), describing it as a stark reflection of the nation’s deteriorating education sector.
According to figures released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, only about 420,000 scored above 200. This means over 78% of candidates fell below the 200-mark threshold.
In a statement shared via his verified social media handle, Obi described the results as a troubling indicator of deep-rooted structural failures in Nigeria’s educational system, attributing the decline to decades of neglect and insufficient funding.
“These results highlight the consequences of decades of underinvestment in education, a sector that should be central to our national development strategy,” he stated.
Citing international comparisons, Obi noted that while Nigeria’s university enrollment stands at roughly two million, Bangladesh’s National University alone accommodates over 3.4 million students — despite the country having a smaller population. He further referenced Turkey, which, with a population of about 87.7 million, boasts over seven million university students — more than triple Nigeria’s total.
Obi emphasized that education must be treated not just as a social service, but as a cornerstone for national growth, security, and poverty reduction.
“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 said.
The former presidential candidate urged the government and stakeholders to prioritize education reform and increased investment, warning that failure to act could have long-term consequences for the nation’s future.
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