Obi of Onitsha criticises Nigeria’s education funding, seeks reforms

The Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, has voiced concerns over the state of Nigeria’s education system, citing inadequate funding and a disconnect from global trends.

Speaking at the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) after being conferred with a distinctive honorary fellowship alongside Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo, a former Editor of The Guardian, the monarch highlighted that the country’s average annual allocation for education over the past 25 years stands at approximately 7.81 per cent of the national budget.

This figure is significantly below the UNESCO and National Policy on Education recommended guideline of 20-26 per cent.

Obi Achebe contrasted Nigeria’s education budget with those of other African countries over the same period, noting that Ghana allocated 24.37 per cent, Kenya 21.70 per cent, Senegal 21.32 per cent, South Africa 19.94 per cent, and Morocco 17.61 per cent. He also noted that in the 2025 budget, Nigeria’s allocation from the federal and 22 state governments was 7.3 per cent. Only four states – Enugu, Kano, Kaduna, and Jigawa – exceeded the UNESCO guideline in 2025.

The traditional ruler also addressed the high demand for tertiary education in comparison to the limited capacity of institutions. He referenced a statement by Professor Peter Okebukola, the former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, from 20 years ago, who noted that over two million candidates were vying for 750,000 university spaces.

Obi Achebe stated that this situation has become “far starker today,” with Nigeria’s population growing from 140 million in 2006 to an estimated 233-237 million in 2025, increasing the demand for education.

Furthermore, he pointed out that of the 262 existing universities in Nigeria, 147 (56 per cent) are privately owned. He also mentioned the “Japa” phenomenon, or brain drain, where skilled professionals are leaving the country, and warned that a failure to address these issues would hinder Nigeria’s ability to develop its human capacity and keep pace with a rapidly changing, digitally driven world.

The monarch also emphasised the need for academic institutions, governments, and businesses to embrace artificial intelligence. He challenged the audience to address the educational quagmire, asking whether it is right for the present generation to create such a “massive conundrum for the future generations.”

A major part of the convocation was the investiture of new fellows. The Academy admitted 31 new members, including Regular, Overseas, and Honorary Fellows. Among the honorary fellows inducted were the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochuckwu Achebe, arts and culture promoter Mr. Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo, and seasoned journalist Dr. Lasisi Olagunju.

President of the NAL, Professor Sola Akinrinade, praised the Obi of Onitsha for bringing “class and distinction to the institution of traditional rulership.”

The Academy of Letters called on the Federal Government to institute a national value re-orientation program to combat the country’s rapidly declining moral standards. 

The appeal was made by the outgoing President of the Academy, Professor Akinrinade, who welcomed the incoming President, Prof. Andrew Haruna, at the 27th Convocation held at the University of Lagos.

Professor Akinrinade highlighted that the Academy’s discussions throughout the year identified a crumbling value system as a major challenge that cuts across various national problems, including economic instability, poor infrastructure, food insecurity, and corruption.

He noted that the pace of moral decline, particularly among young people, has reached an unprecedented level. Symptoms of this decline are evident in leadership challenges, a poor work ethic, a lack of civic responsibility, and a decline in patriotism.

These issues contribute to widespread frustration and are forcing many Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad.

The NAL president warned that if left unchecked, this decline in values could lead to a lawless society “totally bereft of moral virtues.”

The Academy has pledged its support to the government for any initiative aimed at addressing this issue.

The convocation also featured a lecture on “Humanity and the Humanities in the Age of Emerging Technologies” delivered by Professor Francis Egbokhare, a past president of the Academy.

Professor Akinrinade emphasised that the humanities have a critical role to play in the digital age by helping to guide the digital revolution and ensure that technology serves African values.

He urged the humanities community to collaborate with technologists and regulators to craft policies on digital ethics and promote digital literacy.

He also celebrated Mr. Anikulapo and Dr. Olagunju for their decades-long contributions to promoting arts, culture, and national discourse. The president noted that the new honorary fellows embody the values that the Academy holds dear.