Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has decried the alarming state of education infrastructure across Nigeria, calling on government at all levels to prioritise functional classrooms over uncompleted or abandoned projects.
Obi, who made the remarks during a visit to a dilapidated primary school in Nasarawa State on Wednesday, said it was disheartening to see millions of Nigerian children learning under trees, in overcrowded halls, or sitting on bare floors, while billions of naira are wasted on white elephant projects.
>Our children deserve proper classrooms, not abandoned buildings and incomplete contracts. What kind of future are we building if we continue to neglect their learning environment?” Obi asked.
He criticised successive administrations for focusing more on political projects and showpiece infrastructure rather than real human capital development.
>True development starts with education. You cannot claim to be building a nation when the foundations—education and healthcare—are crumbling,” he added.
Obi, who is known for his consistent advocacy for prudent governance and investment in education, urged state governors to conduct audits of all abandoned school projects and redirect resources to complete them.
The former Anambra governor also called on private sector players and non-governmental organisations to support efforts aimed at improving access to quality education, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Every child, whether in Lagos or in the remotest village in Zamfara, deserves access to quality education in a conducive learning environment,” he said.
His comments come amid widespread public concern over the state of basic education in the country, with recent reports showing over 10 million out-of-school children and thousands of poorly maintained school facilities nationwide.
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