Former presidential candidate and ex-governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, has criticised the Nigerian government over what he described as continued neglect of the education sector, warning that the situation is becoming a national crisis.
Speaking on Thursday, Obi expressed concern about the growing number of out-of-school children, lack of functional classrooms, and what he called a misplaced focus on infrastructure projects that offer little value to the country’s development.
“Our children deserve classrooms, not abandoned projects,” he said. “When 20 million Nigerian children are out of school, and many more cannot read or write, this is no longer just an education issue. It’s a national emergency.”
His comments followed recent data released by the Universal Basic Education Commission, showing that over 20 million Nigerian children are currently not in school. Obi also referenced the latest West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results, which revealed a sharp drop in performance.
“These scary statistics were also mirrored by WAEC,” he said. “With only 38 percent of students passing the WASSCE, we’re looking at the worst academic performance in five years.”
Obi called for a radical shift in the country’s spending priorities, noting that heavy investments in physical infrastructure have not matched progress in education, health, or human capital development.
“At a time when education should be our most urgent national priority, we’re spending trillions on projects that don’t reflect in our human development index,” he said. “Meanwhile, schools are falling apart, teachers are unpaid, and millions of children are being left behind.”
He urged federal and state governments to redirect attention and funding to basic education and ensure that all Nigerian children have access to quality learning environments.
“Education is the most powerful investment we can make in our future,” he said. “A nation that neglects its young people has no future. If we want a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Nigeria, we must invest in our children. Failing them means failing our future.”
