₦airaland Forum

Nigeria Must Prioritise Education or Risk Falling Further Behind - Peter Obi

Yesterday, at Coal City University Enugu I delivered a lecture on 'Repositioning Nigeria’s education sector for national growth and global competitiveness' I also seized the opportunity to commend the Vice-Chancellor and the entire management of the University for their commitment to academic excellence and for providing a platform for meaningful national discourse.

No nation rises above the quality of its education system. Nigeria’s current low Human Development Index (HDI) score of 0.548 and persistent high unemployment are clear symptoms of chronic underinvestment in education and human capital development.

The data is equally revealing. Nigeria allocates less than 10% of its budget to education, far below the 15–20% global benchmark. Youth unemployment and underemployment exceed 30%, while life expectancy remains among the lowest 50–55 years. Literacy levels hover below average 59% and 65%, all of which point to deep structural weaknesses in our development trajectory.

In contrast, comparable countries such as Indonesia and Egypt, and South Africa have high HDI levels with HDI scores of 0.72–0.75. They all have higher life expectancy of above 65 years, higher literacy levels and higher per capita incomes of $3,500 above, while Nigeria is about $1000. This stronger progress was through sustained and deliberate investment in education, healthcare, and broader human capital development. The difference is not in talent, but in priority and policy consistency.

We must move beyond rhetoric and confront these realities with urgency. I therefore called for a total review of Nigeria’s education funding model, stronger public-private partnerships, and more inclusive policies that recognise the role of both public and private institutions in educating Nigerian students. It is difficult to justify excluding private universities from intervention frameworks like TETFund when they are actively contributing to national capacity building.

Education is not charity; it is the foundation of national growth and the gateway to global competitiveness. With sustained investment in education and a deliberate focus on human capital development, a new Nigeria is not only POssible - it is inevitable. -PO

Source

I agree with Peter Obi. Nigeria's current 6% budgetary allocation for education is far below UNESCO's recommended benchmark of about 15 - 20%, even further below Nigeria's own National Policy on Education benchmark of 26%.

What makes it even worse is Tinubu government's chronic poor budget implementation despite high taxation, removal of Petrol Subsidy, and current oil boom.

Nigeria needs a more vibrant, responsible, and accountable leadership.

This thing is not rocket science. Invest in education and get it to global standards but don't keep it in the hands of government, just make sure every student can access it with student loan (some credit to Tinubu here despite being a failed leader).

Ensure full transparency in the implementation process. All institutions must ensure their accounts are fully auditable, monitor the system with the press and EFCC to make sure the benefits go directly to the students and not the politicians, institutional leaders and contractors.

Consistency over 10 years of this and you already have an entirely new and well educated population ready to take on the world.

I think Peter made the first point I will agree with in last two decades, but still did not hit the nail on the head due to political reasons.

It’s just so sad that none of the 18 states in Nigeria has a standard and competitive public education.

Even though Peter made that point, he also did not invest in it! Peter spent good years in the UK and knows what education looks like. He cannot confidently boast about replicating such anywhere in Anambra, but I still respect his suggestion.

But now, what are the plans he has for education. Anyone can complain, but let us know your plans and see how feasible it is!

The growth and development of a country starts from the class room. If he believes we lagging behind, just like majority knows, he should present his plan for the sector!

How many STANDARD and COMPETITIVE primary and tertiary institution does he plan to build every year? What are his budget and how feasible it is with the current financial status of the country.


How does he plan to curb corruption in the educational system?

But when Peter Obi was governor of Anambra state, he told us that education is not for the poor as he tried to justify the astronomical increase in tuition fees of university students and the outrageous amounts that mission schools were charging pupils and students. He left state-owned primary and secondary schools in dilapidated conditions as he wanted to force most people to use the expensive privatized mission schools. Whenever Peter Obi mouths off this type of sweet nonsense, they are usually laced with unbearable levels of hypocrisy.

HacheNoire:
I think Peter made the first point I will agree with in last two decades, but still did not hit the nail on the head due to political reasons.

It’s just so sad that none of the 18 states in Nigeria has a standard and competitive public education.

Even though Peter made that point, he also did not invest in it! Peter spent good years in the UK and knows what education looks like. He cannot confidently boast about replicating such anywhere in Anambra, but I still respect his suggestion.

But now, what are the plans he has for education. Anyone can complain, but let us know your plans and see how feasible it is!

The growth and development of a country starts from the class room. If he believes we lagging behind, just like majority knows, he should present his plan for the sector!

How many STANDARD and COMPETITIVE primary and tertiary institution does he plan to build every year? What are his budget and how feasible it is with the current financial status of the country.


How does he plan to curb corruption in the educational system?

I personally think government shouldn't build schools directly, they should focus on funding and regulating them while keeping them in private and group hands. This was the model PO used in Anambra for primary and secondary schools, and the result speaks for itself till date.

FG should completely hands off school ownership, but fund and regulate them to keep them accessible. For example, public - private deals with people like Dangote or companies like Glo could fund schools that are locally owned, monitored by institutions like EFCC and the press, and supported annually by FG and State governments to keep the education free and accessible.

givedemwotowoto:
I personally think government shouldn't build schools directly, they should focus on funding and regulating them while keeping them in private and group hands. This was the model PO used in Anambra for primary and secondary schools, and the result speaks for itself till date.

FG should completely hands off school ownership, but fund and regulate them to keep them accessible. For example, public - private deals with people like Dangote or companies like Glo could fund schools that are locally owned, monitored by institutions like EFCC and the press, and supported annually by FG and State governments to keep the education free and accessible.

You made very valid points I have propagated on these forum and got insulted for it.

I have always been of the opinion that the government cannot fund tertiary’s education IF it wants to be competitive and standard.

Primary should Secondary should be the basic and laws enacted to recognize and admit qualifications where required. I do know standards need to be upgraded to get to that point.

These are the reasons why Peter needs to be in-depth and deep dive about his ideas and plans!

AsomughaChuks02:
But when Peter Obi was governor of Anambra state, he told us that education is not for the poor as he tried to justify the astronomical increase in tuition fees of university students and the outrageous amounts that mission schools were charging pupils and students. He left state-owned primary and secondary schools in dilapidated conditions as he wanted to force most people to use the expensive privatized mission schools. Whenever Peter Obi mouths off this type of sweet nonsense, they are usually laced with unbearable levels of hypocrisy.

Oga slow down when you want to lie. The same man that you claimed said Education is not for the poor made enrollment increase in Anambra state, was it only rich people that increased the number?

AsomughaChuks02:
But when Peter Obi was governor of Anambra state, he told us that education is not for the poor as he tried to justify the astronomical increase in tuition fees of university students and the outrageous amounts that mission schools were charging pupils and students. He left state-owned primary and secondary schools in dilapidated conditions as he wanted to force most people to use the expensive privatized mission schools. Whenever Peter Obi mouths off this type of sweet nonsense, they are usually laced with unbearable levels of hypocrisy.

Na only people not bright dey believe the hypocrite called "HimTulie" aka the Agulu fraudster. When he was governor. He did not remember that education needed prioritization when he jacked up fees twice that Anambrans could not afford it.

HacheNoire:
You made very valid points I have propagated on these forum and got insulted for it.

I have always been of the opinion that the government cannot fund tertiary’s education IF it wants to be competitive and standard.

Primary should Secondary should be the basic and laws enacted to recognize and admit qualifications where required. I do know standards need to be upgraded to get to that point.

These are the reasons why Peter needs to be in-depth and deep dive about his ideas and plans!

The current government of whom you help in spreading propaganda are they in-depth and deep dive about their educational policies?

Goodvibes007:
Na only people not bright dey believe HimTulie aka the Agulu fraudster.

Dude are you sure you read the topic or you just want to say nonsense as usual?

Ok we have heard you ……..

Mr 3rd Class!!!!

They usually makes good and valid point before they win election , as soon as they become what they wanted , they start doing other things and we begin to wonder ..

Believeintruth:
The current government of whom you help in spreading propaganda are they in-depth and deep dive about their educational policies?

That’s the difference between me and you!

I am flexible in my thoughts! I welcome opinions and reasons, weigh all and reach conclusions!

So of if I am an adamant supporter of His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), does it make me blank or restrictive to new opinions and ideas?

As a matter of fact, if feasible and concrete, I will be the first to sell to the Great APC.

Believeintruth:
Dude are you sure you read the topic or you just want to say nonsense as usual?

Abegi. I am not one of those kids born in the 2000s that you can gaslight. I had already completed a Masters degree before Obi completed his term as Governor in Anambra.

He increased the fees twice (2011 and 2012) and even said education was not for the poor.

Then used magic centres for WAEC which Gov. Obiano closed after he got elected.

Just the way he prioritised education in Anambra... Chochocho too much

When did he realized that? Easier said than done..

Ok Agulu packaged messiah, we don hear!

Btw, how is your preparation for the ADC primaries?

Oya, data boys on 30k payroll, come and insult Obi.

Tell him it is better to prioritize politics over education.

Oga we don hear .. that's why you gave them hero beer in ya state as Education ..

They should also look in the side of trades also, not everyone will
Do white collar jobs. In the next 16 to 20 years it will be very hard to get people to do panel beating, vulcanizing, and some other trades jobs.

Goodvibes007:
Abegi. I am not one of those kids born in the 2000s that you can gaslight. I had already completed a Masters degree before Obi completed his term as Governor in Anambra.

He increased the fees twice (2011 and 2012) and even said education was not for the poor.

Then used magic centres for WAEC which Gov. Obiano closed after he got elected.

Oga stop spreading lies. So magic center was Anambra state policy under Obi abi? Watch the way you slander someone as you risk going to jail. He increased fees twice yet enrollment level increased.

Believeintruth:
Oga stop spreading lies. So magic center was Anambra state policy under Obi abi? Watch the way you slander someone as you risk going to jail. He increased fees twice yet enrollment level increased.

So Obiano just created the magic centres from thin air and also closed it?

Or Did Obi not increase school fees by over 150%?

How? By having more schools/polytechnics/ tech institutions/universities?

How does that help a person that is struggling with finding a means to getting meals, doesnt even have a means of transportation let alone paying for the cost of the education this topic is about?

What about the underpaid teachers and lecturers? Fancy schools doesnt mean their incomes will improve. How will their feeling about their welfare improve the education system?

The economy needs to be fixed, and education and roads are not where to start.

Laple0541:
Ok Agulu packaged messiah, we don hear!

Btw, how is your preparation for the ADC primaries?

One would think Obi has never governed any Nigerian state before with the way he dishes out Lamba. LMAO

Mr hypocrisy Peter Obi, so you knew the important of education but yet you increased Anambra state tuition fee by 100% claiming education is not for the poor.

Peter Obi should just stop talking because the more he talks, the more he exposed his own horrible past In governance

Goodvibes007:
So Obiano just created the magic centres from thin air and also closed it?

Or Did Obi not increase school fees by over 150%?

Try and be structured when you want to argue. You clearly have no point and it shows that your statement is based on pure hatred and not about politics. You claimed PO created magic centers I asked you so was it a govt policy under PO to create magic centers? You still avoided answering the question. You talked about increase of school fees and I ask you did enrollment number reduce or increase? You still have not answered that one. Also what the school fees comparison with Lagos for example let us do that.

Believeintruth:
Try and be structured when you want to argue. You clearly have no point and it shows that your statement is based on pure hatred and not about politics. You claimed PO created magic centers I asked you so was it a govt policy under PO to create magic centers? You still avoided answering the question. You talked about increase of school fees and I ask you did enrollment number reduce or increase? You still have not answered that one. Also what the school fees comparison with Lagos for example let us do that.

Are we talking about Lagos here or how your Agulu messiah is just a big fat hypocrite?

Did Obiano close over 400 magic centres after Obi left government. Yes or NO? YES
Did Obi increase school fees and some student faced severe hardship? YES or NO. YES

You can only mumu people born in the 2000s.

TossTos:
The usually makes good and valid point before they win election as soon as they become what they wanted , they start doing other things and we begin to wonder ..

Very wonderful summary.

This man is frivolous! When Atiku beats you at the primaries your eye go see sege!

LP you can't go back!

New party you can not open!

PetObi is never what he claims to be!

Empty vessels make the most noise!

givedemwotowoto:
I agree with Peter Obi. Nigeria's current 6% budgetary allocation for education is far below UNESCO's recommended benchmark of about 15 - 20%, even further below Nigeria's own National Policy on Education benchmark of 26%.

What makes it even worse is Tinubu government's chronic poor budget implementation despite high taxation, removal of Petrol Subsidy, and current oil boom.

Nigeria needs a more vibrant, responsible, and accountable leadership.

This thing is not rocket science. Invest in education and get it to global standards but don't keep it in the hands of government, just make sure every student can access it with student loan (some credit to Tinubu here despite being a failed leader).

Ensure full transparency in the implementation process. All institutions must ensure their accounts are fully auditable, monitor the system with the press and EFCC to make sure the benefits go directly to the students and not the politicians, institutional leaders and contractors.

Consistency over 10 years of this and you already have an entirely new and well educated population ready to take on the world.

You started well with UNESCO Recommendations of 15-16% Annual Budget Allocation but you ended Poorly Because of your Obedient Mentality Of thinking wrongly that Obi is the only one that can effect the Change and to worsen your Negative thoughts - on TINUBU- that you People lambast every now and then on Social Media,as if he is the One ruling Nigeria since 1960.
I beg make you Park Somewhere else,make Una continue to Package and Market Una Obi.
You think Ruling Nigeria is by mouth 👄,ok,we shall see.