Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, has drawn attention to the recently released results of the 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), emphasizing the pressing need for the government to address issues within the education sector.
Obi stressed the imperative of prioritizing education as a fundamental catalyst for national development, advocating for proactive measures such as substantial investments in education, improvements in teacher training initiatives, and the adoption of inclusive policies.
Highlighting the breakdown of the UTME results, which revealed that only 0.5% of candidates achieved scores of 300 (75%) and above, while a significant 76% scored below 200 (below 50%), Obi expressed deep concern regarding the implications of these statistics on the education landscape. He underscored the systemic neglect evident within the education sector, asserting its critical role in driving national progress.
Drawing comparative insights, Obi highlighted the stark contrast between Nigeria’s educational landscape and that of other nations. Despite Nigeria’s sizable population of over 200 million, the country only boasts approximately 2 million full-time university students. In contrast, countries like Iran and Bangladesh, with smaller populations, demonstrate significantly higher enrollment rates, indicating a disparity in educational access and quality.
Obi emphasized the urgency of addressing the challenges plaguing Nigeria’s education sector, recognizing education as a fundamental determinant of a nation’s development trajectory. He reiterated the importance of strategic interventions, including increased investment, enhanced teacher capacity building, and the implementation of inclusive policies, as essential steps towards fostering a robust and equitable educational system.
