Nigeria’s education system is in crisis
In 2025, about 78% of UTME (JAMB) candidates scored below 200. That’s 3 out of every 4 students failing to meet the basic university entry mark. If we do nothing, our universities will have fewer well-prepared students and many young people’s potential will be wasted.
Why are scores so low? Many students finish high school without strong foundations in core subjects. Large class sizes and teaching resource gaps mean not everyone learns at the same pace. By the time students sit their final exams, small knowledge gaps can become huge hurdles.
This education gap has real consequences for the economy. Employers find fewer qualified entrants, and our industries struggle with skill shortages. Nigeria already loses an estimated $14 billion a year due to skills mismatches. If students can’t pass basic exams, they miss out on university and vocational training that would make them job-ready.
On a national scale, underperforming exams can slow growth and deepen inequality. Every generation of under-skilled youth means lower productivity and fewer innovations. Our talented young people may even look abroad for education or work, meaning a “brain drain”. We need to act now to avoid these long-term setbacks.
There is hope in smart solutions. Improving learning starts with better support and technology. Platforms like Elevate are part of the answer: they use AI to give each student personalised practice and instant feedback, tailored to WAEC, NECO and JAMB. By strengthening fundamentals early, we can build a stronger talent pool for Nigeria’s future. With JAMB starting tomorrow, will this one be different? Only time will tell.