The Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s worsening education crisis, warning that decades of neglect and underfunding are pushing the country towards a precarious future.
Speaking at the 27th Convocation and Investiture Ceremony of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Obi Achebe described the current state of education as a profound crisis.
The traditional ruler, who was one of three honorary fellowship awardees at the event, challenged the perception of monarchs as mere ceremonial figures. He argued that many traditional councils are led by highly educated professionals, citing lawyer Niyi Akintola’s observation that the Ibadan Traditional Council’s collective expertise surpasses that of the Oyo State Executive Council. He used this to stress that Nigeria’s most valuable resource, its human capacity is being squandered.
In his address, Obi Achebe provided a sobering statistical analysis of the country’s educational challenges:
Population growth: Nigeria’s population has surged from 140 million in 2006 to about 233–237 million in 2025, intensifying pressure on the education sector.
Budgetary neglect: In 25 years, education has received an average of only 7.81% of the national budget, far below UNESCO’s 20–26% benchmark. Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa consistently allocate above 19%.
Stagnant funding: In 2025, federal and state allocations averaged just 7.3%, with only Enugu, Kano, Kaduna, and Jigawa surpassing UNESCO’s guideline.
Infrastructure strain: Of 262 universities in Nigeria, 90.8% were founded within the last 35 years, most struggling with poor funding and collapsing facilities.
Brain drain: The “Japa” phenomenon, he said, reflects how systemic failures are driving skilled professionals abroad.
Achebe described these figures as depressing metrics, but insisted they should serve as a rallying call. He urged policymakers and the academic community to confront whether Nigeria should focus on repairing past failures or attempt to leapfrog into a digital future.
While Nigeria records 60% internet penetration, he noted, it lags behind Morocco (92%) and Botswana (81.4%). “Are we right to leave this massive problem for the future?” he asked, calling for a collective effort to reverse the decline.
The ceremony also featured the induction of new members, conferment of awards, and the installation of a new NAL president. Outgoing president, Professor Sola Akinrinade, used his valedictory address to warn of Nigeria’s “rapidly declining value system,” which he said is at the root of leadership failure, weak work ethics, loss of patriotism, and widespread frustration driving young Nigerians abroad.
He urged the Federal Executive Council to adopt a “Value Re-orientation” programme to halt the slide, arguing that the nation risks becoming “a valueless society” if urgent steps are not taken.
Akinrinade also emphasised the need for the humanities to play a guiding role in the digital revolution, ensuring technology adoption reflects African values. He said, “The humanities help us imagine the future in this digital age,” while calling for collaboration between humanists, technologists, and regulators.
The outgoing president praised the Obi of Onitsha for bringing “class and distinction to the institution of traditional rulership,” and lauded Anikulapo and Olagunju for their contributions to culture and journalism. He also announced the induction of 31 new members and paid tribute to two distinguished fellows who passed away this year: Professor Charles Nnolim and Professor Ben Elugbe, a former NAL president.
