By Ihechi Enyinnaya
In a recent statement that has sparked national outrage, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, voiced grave concerns over the alarming and unsafe conditions Nigerian students are facing while attempting to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations. The former governor of Anambra State highlighted the dangerous early-morning travel arrangements for teenagers, many of whom are as young as 15, forced to journey across hazardous and unfamiliar routes to sit for their exams.
Obi, deeply disturbed by reports of students being asked to arrive at exam centres by 6:30 AM, criticized the authorities for subjecting vulnerable teenagers to such life-threatening conditions. “Setting exams for vulnerable teenagers as early as 6:00 AM while transporting them across far-flung locations is reckless,” Obi stated. He went on to express concern over the growing number of students who have fallen victim to accidents, disappeared on their way to exams, or suffered from unnecessary trauma in the process.
“Who takes responsibility when a 15- or 16-year-old child disappears or is harmed while trying to access their right to education?” Obi questioned, underscoring the magnitude of the failure of the education system to safeguard the lives of students.
The former governor drew attention to a deeper systemic issue: Nigeria’s insufficient number of universities and exam centres to accommodate its growing youth population. With over 200 million citizens, Nigeria currently operates only about 200 universities, resulting in a dismal university-to-population ratio of 1:1 million. “This is a very disturbing and staggering ratio,” Obi remarked, pointing to the urgent need for substantial investment in education.
According to data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics and IndexMundi, Nigeria’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER)—a key indicator of access to higher education—stands at a mere 12%. This compares unfavourably to countries like Indonesia, which has approximately 280 million people and over 4,000 universities. Indonesia boasts a GER of over 45%, with over 10 million students enrolled in tertiary education across various ages.
Obi emphasized that the disparity in access to higher education between Nigeria and nations like Indonesia underscores a critical need for reform. “If we had even half of Indonesia’s educational infrastructure—about 2,000 universities—the Nigerian child would not be forced into life-threatening journeys just to write an exam,” he said.
The former governor strongly called for an expansion of Nigeria’s education system, stressing that education is the cornerstone of national development. “Education is not a luxury or expense; it is the biggest contributor to development for any nation,” Obi said. “You cannot claim to want development while starving our young people of the access to knowledge.”
Obi’s remarks come at a time when Nigeria’s education sector faces significant challenges, including overcrowded classrooms, limited resources, and poor infrastructure. While the country’s youth remain eager to learn and pursue higher education, the system’s inefficiencies place them at great risk, both physically and emotionally.
“We must aggressively and intentionally expand our education system,” Obi urged, calling for a national overhaul that would provide every Nigerian child with safe, accessible, and quality education. “Our young generation should not be endangered because they desire education.”
Concluding his statement, Obi reiterated his vision for a new Nigeria. “A new Nigeria is POssible,” he declared, reaffirming his commitment to ensuring that the nation’s youth receive the education and opportunities they deserve.
As Nigeria’s education crisis continues to unfold, Obi’s call for reform has sparked a conversation about the urgent need for action to protect students and improve access to quality education across the country.