The recently released 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have once again exposed the profound crisis in Nigeria’s education system. Of the 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the exam, only about 420,000 scored above the 200-mark threshold, while over 1.5 million—representing more than 78%—failed to meet this critical benchmark. This is a distressing reflection of the systemic challenges that have plagued our educational sector for decades, driven by chronic underinvestment and neglect.
I have consistently maintained that education is not merely a social service; it is a strategic investment. It is the most powerful driver of national development and the most effective tool for lifting millions out of poverty. The latest JAMB results are a clarion call for urgent and transformative action.
When we compare Nigeria to other nations, the scale of our challenge becomes even clearer. Nigeria, with a population exceeding 200 million, has a total university enrollment of approximately 2 million students. In stark contrast, the National University of Bangladesh—a single institution in a country with 75% of Nigeria’s population—enrolls over 3.4 million students. Similarly, Turkey, with a population of 87.7 million, has over 7 million university students, more than three times Nigeria’s total tertiary enrollment.
These nations, particularly Bangladesh, which once lagged behind Nigeria in development indices, have surpassed us in critical areas, including the Human Development Index (HDI). Their success is no accident—it is the result of deliberate and sustained investment in education.
The consequences of our failure to prioritize education are evident in the JAMB results and in the broader socio-economic challenges we face. We cannot build a prosperous, secure, and equitable Nigeria without addressing this crisis head-on. I call on the government, policymakers, and all stakeholders to invest aggressively in education at all levels—primary, secondary, and tertiary. This includes modernizing infrastructure, enhancing teacher training, updating curricula, and expanding access to quality education for every Nigerian child.
A new Nigeria is possible, but it begins with education. We must act now to secure the future of our nation and our children. Let us commit to building an education system that empowers every Nigerian to thrive and contribute to our collective progress.
Peter Obi
Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (2023)
Advocate for a New Nigeria
