Education crisis demands leadership, investment, not policy changes – Obi

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has said Nigeria’s education crisis cannot be resolved through policy changes alone, urging the Federal Government to prioritise sustained investment, effective leadership and improved learning infrastructure to reverse the sector’s decline.

Obi’s remarks followed the Federal Government’s recent admission that the policy separating junior and senior secondary schools has failed to improve educational outcomes.

He noted that the government’s acknowledgment is reflected in recent examination results, citing the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), where only 38.32 per cent of candidates passed both English Language and Mathematics, and the 2025 computer-based WASSCE, in which only 32 per cent achieved the benchmark pass.

According to Obi, the consistent poor performance in national examinations over the past two years underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms.

He described education as the cornerstone of human capital development and economic growth, arguing that Nigeria cannot overcome poverty and economic stagnation without investing in education, healthcare and job creation.

Obi also criticised what he described as inadequate funding of the sector, noting that the 2026 federal budget allocated ₦3.52 trillion to education, representing 6.17 per cent of total expenditure, down from 7.87 per cent in 2025 and far below UNESCO’s recommended 15–20 per cent benchmark.

He said the allocation demonstrates a failure to recognise education as a key driver of sustainable national development.

The former Anambra State governor also referenced concerns raised by education advocate Alex Onyia, who disclosed that Nigeria was unable to sponsor students to international STEM and Mathematics Olympiads due to inadequate funding.

Obi described the situation as unfortunate, saying it was troubling that government could fund foreign conferences while neglecting opportunities for some of the country’s brightest students to compete internationally.

He argued that the education crisis stems more from poor funding, weak management and lack of political will than from the structure of the junior and senior secondary school system.

Highlighting his administration’s record in Anambra State, Obi said strategic investment in education, including the provision of laptops, internet connectivity, generators and other learning facilities, significantly improved educational outcomes.

He added that the state’s large-scale computer procurement for secondary schools earned recognition from HP Africa as the largest laptop acquisition for schoolchildren by any subnational government in Africa.

Obi called on the Federal Government to make deliberate investments in education, healthcare and job creation, warning that failure to address these critical sectors would have long-term consequences for the country’s future. He concluded by reiterating his belief that “A New Nigeria is Possible.”

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