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The former presidential candidate and former governor of the State of Anambra, Peter Obi, replied the joint admission and enrollment council (Jamb) on what he described as the “Reconsiderate” programming of 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examation (UTME), warning that the agreement is putting life to young Nigerians at serious risk.
In a statement released on Sunday, Obi complained that adolescents, many aged between 15 and 17, are reported in the exam centers already at 6:30 in the morning, often forcing them to travel in the dark through unsafe and non -familiar territories.
“These are adolescents forced to travel in the dark, often through dangerous and unknown areas, only to exercise their right to education,” he said.
The Utme of 2025, which began on Thursday 24 April, will last until Monday 5 May 2025.
Obi described the practice as “reckless”, citing the relationships of road accidents, disappeared people and psychological traumas that involve candidates during the exam period.
“Who assumes responsibility when a 15 or 16 -year -old boy disappears or is damaged while trying to access his right to education?” He asked.
The Stalwart of the Labor Party has further connected the situation to a greater failure in the Nigeria education sector, noting that the country’s tertiary education infrastructures are seriously inadequate for its flourishing population.
“Nigeria has about 200 universities for a population of over 200 million people. This is a university for every million citizens, a stunning and profoundly worrying relationship,” said Obi.
He compared the gross enrollment report of Nigeria by about 12 percent to 45 percent of Indonesia, underlining that the country of the Southern –st Asia, with a population of 280 million, boasts over 4,000 tertiary institutions.
“Indonesia has over 10 million students enrolled in tertiary education and a much more fair diffusion of university in its regions. This makes access to education safer and more democratic,” he added.
Obi urged the Federal Government to invest in the education sector massively, underlining that increasing the number of universities even in the middle of the Indonesia would facilitate access and reduce the risks for students.
“Education is not a luxury or an expense. It is the greatest contribution to national development. It cannot be said that you want development during the hunger for young people of access to knowledge,” he said.
The former governor has asked for urgent reforms to expand the educational system in line with the growing population of Nigeria, insisting on the fact that the nation owes it to its young people to guarantee their safety and access to quality education.
“Our young generation should not be in danger because they want education. We have to do better,” said Obi.
Meanwhile, Jamb, in a short reaction, has attempted to clarify that the pre-exam verification processes, not the exams themselves, require early arrival. However, the Council remained silent about the risks associated with students traveling in the early hours.
Previous reports indicated that a teenager disappeared on his way to an Utme center in the Ajah area of Lagos, unleashing further concerns between the parents and the parties concerned on the safety of the candidates.
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