The 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which began on Thursday, April 24, 2025, is scheduled to conclude on Monday, May 5, 2025.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday, a former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, voiced his concern over reports that many candidates, predominantly teenagers aged between 15 and 17, were being compelled to arrive at their UTME examination centres as early as 6:30 a.m.
Obi condemned this requirement, stating, “These are young individuals who are being forced to travel in darkness, often through unsafe and unfamiliar areas, simply to access educational opportunities.”
He described the situation as “reckless” and referenced incidents where students reportedly experienced road accidents, went missing, or endured psychological distress during the examination period.
He posed a critical question: “Who is held accountable when a 15- or 16-year-old child is harmed or vanishes while attempting to pursue their education?”
UTME Exam Challenges Highlight Broader Educational Crisis: Obi Calls for Urgent Infrastructure and University Expansion
Obi emphasized that this situation highlights deeper and broader issues within Nigeria’s educational system, particularly pointing to the problem of inadequate infrastructure.
He noted that Nigeria, with a population exceeding 200 million, has only about 200 universities — translating to a ratio of one university for every one million people — a figure he found alarming.
To illustrate his point, Obi compared Nigeria to Indonesia, where the gross tertiary enrollment ratio stands at about 45 percent, compared to Nigeria’s 12 percent.
He highlighted that Indonesia, with a population of around 280 million, boasts over 4,000 tertiary institutions and has more than 10 million students enrolled in higher education. The more even distribution of universities across Indonesia’s regions, he said, ensures safer and more democratic access to education.
Calling for urgent action, Obi appealed to the federal government to significantly boost investments in the education sector.
He suggested that Nigeria should aim to establish at least 2,000 universities — half of Indonesia’s number — to enhance educational access and reduce the risks currently faced by students.
Obi stressed, “Education is not a luxury or merely an expense; it is the most critical driver of national development. A country cannot sincerely aspire to develop while neglecting to equip its youth with education.”
He urged for deliberate expansion efforts in Nigeria’s educational system to match the demands of the country’s growing population and to safeguard future generations.
“Our young people should not have to risk their lives in pursuit of education. We owe it to them to create safer and better conditions,” he concluded.
In reaction to Obi’s sharp criticism, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) sought to clarify the difference between the early pre-examination verification process and the official UTME start times.
However, JAMB did not directly address the broader concern that many students are compelled to embark on their journeys extremely early, and sometimes even travel the day before their exam dates.
… story by Ani Juliana.
Join the conversation on Nigeria’s education future. Share your thoughts on Peter Obi’s call for reform and safer exam conditions in the comments below. Stay informed – Visit LouisaOlaniyi.com.ng for more updates on key issues shaping the nation’s future.
Ani Juliana, is A 300l student of the University of Nigeria Nsukka,
With the passion for content writing and Copywriting.
