Nigeria education crisis a national emergency

Says country failing its children

From Sola Ojo, Abuja

The 2023 presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Mr Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the worsening state of Nigeria’s education sector, calling it a national emergency that demands urgent intervention.

Reacting to alarming data released by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on his verified X account on Thursday, August 7, 2025, Obi said Nigeria is “failing its children” by prioritising infrastructure projects over critical investments in human capital.

“With over 20 million children out of school, and the majority of those enrolled unable to read or write, we are facing a crisis of great magnitude.

“Even more disturbing is the fact that those in school are not learning,” Obi decried.

He referenced WAEC’s recent announcement that only 38 per cent of candidates passed the 2025 WASSCE, the worst academic performance in the last five years, as further evidence of the sector’s decline.

“At a time when education should be our most urgent national priority and most critical investment, we as leaders continue to spend trillions on infrastructure, much of which contributes little to development and remains uncompleted, while foundational sectors like education remain in crisis,” Obi lamented.

The former Anambra State governor argued that education remains the strongest tool for national transformation and economic empowerment.

To him, “Education is the most powerful investment we can make in the future of this nation.

“A nation that neglects its young people has no future. Our children deserve classrooms, not abandoned projects.”

He called on all levels of government to urgently redirect public spending towards improving access to quality, functional education for every Nigerian child.

“To build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Nigeria, we must invest in our children. When we fail them, we have failed our nation,” he concluded, reiterating his signature message: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”