Poor JAMB results a reflection of Nigeria’s deteriorating education sector

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By Madu Obi

Former governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the recently released results of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), describing them as a reflection of Nigeria’s deteriorating education system.

The data published by JAMB revealed that 1,955,069 candidates sat for the 2025 UTME, out of which only about 420,000 scored above 200, while over 1.5 million candidates scored below the 200-mark.

In a statement released via his verified social media handle, Mr. Obi said that the results showed that over 78% of the total candidates failed to meet the 200-mark threshold, which he observed, was a reflection of the deep-rooted challenges in the country's educational system.

He attributed this poor performance to long-standing neglect and underinvestment in the education sector, stressing that education must be repositioned as a cornerstone of national development.

“The latest JAMB results once again highlight the consequences of decades of underinvestment in education, a sector that should be central to our national development strategy,” he said.

Obi also drew comparisons between Nigeria and other countries with significantly stronger educational outcomes. According to him, while Nigeria’s total university enrollment is currently about two million students, Bangladesh’s National University, a single university, has an enrollment figure of over 3.4 million students, despite the country 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 of development and in the Human Development Index (HDI),” he remarked.

Citing another example, Obi referenced Turkey, which has a population of about 87.7 million, but boasts more than 7 million university students, which is more than three times Nigeria’s entire university enrollment.

He reiterated his long-standing position that education is not merely a social service, but a strategic national investment.

“Education is the most critical driver of national development and the most powerful tool for lifting people out of poverty. We must now invest aggressively in education at all levels if we are serious about building a prosperous, secure, and equitable Nigeria," Obi stated.