Presidential aspirant of the National Democratic Congress NDC, Peter Obi, has said Nigeria’s deepening education crisis is no longer about inadequate funding but a reflection of failed leadership, poor accountability, and weak governance.
Reacting to recent comments by the Minister of Education, Obi described as alarming the revelation that the North-West and North-East regions received nearly 80 per cent of educational donor funding over the last decade, yet still record the country’s worst literacy and numeracy rates.
According to him, the development exposes a troubling pattern where huge financial interventions have failed to translate into meaningful educational outcomes for millions of Nigerian children.
“Financial resources alone do not guarantee quality education. What truly matters is responsible and transparent management of those funds, measurable results, and a genuine commitment to human capital development,” he stated.
Obi lamented that despite repeated government budgets, donor interventions, and education support programmes, millions of children across the country still lack basic reading and writing skills needed to survive in today’s world.
He warned that the real danger lies not only in the poor statistics but in the growing loss of human potential caused by systemic inefficiency and corruption.
“Nigeria’s greatest asset is not oil, politics, or propaganda, but the human capital of its young people. Any nation that neglects education is preparing itself for deeper poverty, insecurity, unemployment, and instability,” he said.
The former Anambra governor called for a national conversation on accountability in the education sector, insisting that every kobo allocated to education must reflect in improved literacy rates, higher school enrollment, better teacher performance, and stronger learning outcomes.
Drawing comparisons with countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, Obi noted that nations that achieved rapid development did so through deliberate and sustained investments in education.
He urged Nigeria to move beyond rhetoric and focus on practical reforms, including building schools, training teachers, modernising learning systems, strengthening monitoring mechanisms, and ensuring intervention funds directly benefit children rather than being diverted through political and bureaucratic channels.
“A nation’s progress will always reflect the quality of its education system. A brighter future for Nigeria is achievable,” he added.
