Former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the recently released results of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, describing them as a reflection of Nigeria’s failing education system.
In a statement shared on Monday, Obi cited official figures showing that out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2024 JAMB examination, only about 420,000 scored above 200 — the benchmark for competitive university admission. This, he noted, means that more than 78% of the candidates failed to reach the 200-mark threshold.
“The latest JAMB results once again highlight the consequences of decades of underinvestment in education,” Obi lamented. “Education should be central to our national development strategy, but we have neglected it for too long.”
Obi went on to compare Nigeria’s tertiary education enrollment with other nations. He revealed that while Nigeria has a total university enrollment of about 2 million students, Bangladesh’s National University alone boasts over 3.4 million students — despite Bangladesh having only about 75% of Nigeria’s population.
“Bangladesh, which once lagged behind Nigeria in virtually every measurable development index, now surpasses us in all key areas, including the Human Development Index,” he stated.
He also cited Turkey as another case study, pointing out that with a population of approximately 87.7 million, Turkey has more than 7 million university students — over three times Nigeria’s current university enrollment.
Reiterating his longstanding stance, Obi stressed that education must be seen not merely as a social service but as a critical, strategic investment.
“Education is the most powerful tool for lifting people out of poverty and the most critical driver of national development. We must now invest aggressively in education — at all levels — if we are serious about building a prosperous, secure, and equitable Nigeria,” he concluded.
