The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in the 2027 general election, Peter Obi, has called for a fundamental reform of Nigeria’s education sector, warning that the country’s poor learning outcomes cannot be solved by policy adjustments alone.

Obi was reacting to the federal government’s admission that the separation of junior and senior secondary schools had not delivered the expected improvement in educational performance.

In a statement on his X account, the former Anambra State governor said the acknowledgement reflects deeper problems of weak leadership, poor funding, inadequate supervision and failed implementation.

He cited recent public examination results as evidence of the scale of the crisis, noting that only 38.32 per cent of candidates passed English Language and Mathematics in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, while about 32 per cent reportedly passed the computer based WASSCE in 2025.

Obi said education is the most important foundation for human capital development and economic growth. He argued that Nigeria cannot overcome poverty, unemployment and stagnation without serious investment in education, healthcare and job creation.

He criticised the allocation of N3.52 trillion to education in the 2026 budget, saying it represents only 6.17 per cent of total spending. He said the figure falls below the 15 to 20 per cent benchmark recommended by UNESCO and is lower than the previous year’s share of 7.87 per cent.

Obi also faulted reports that Nigeria could not sponsor students to international STEM and mathematics competitions because of lack of funds. He described the situation as unacceptable, saying talented students should be supported to project the country positively.

Drawing from his tenure as governor, Obi said targeted investment in schools, technology, teacher support and infrastructure can produce measurable results. He urged the federal government to treat education as a strategic national priority rather than a routine budget item.