Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized the practice of scheduling Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations as early as 6:30am, calling it unsafe and insensitive, especially given the rising insecurity across Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Obi expressed concern for the safety of young students, many of whom are between 15 and 17 years old, who are forced to leave home before dawn just to sit for their exams. He described the situation as “reckless” and warned that it exposes children to unnecessary risks, including accidents, abductions, and emotional trauma.
“Who takes responsibility if a 15-year-old or 16-year-old child gets harmed or goes missing while trying to access their right to education?” Obi questioned.
Highlighting broader issues in Nigeria’s educational system, Obi said the early examination times are a symptom of a deeper failure. He lamented the limited number of universities in the country, noting that with over 230 million citizens, Nigeria has barely 200 universities — a ratio of one university to every one million people.
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Obi compared Nigeria’s situation to that of Indonesia, which has a similar population size but boasts over 4,000 universities and a Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of more than 45%. In contrast, Nigeria’s GER remains around 12%, far below the 40% benchmark recommended for developing countries.
“In Indonesia, universities are widely available in every region, making access to higher education easier and safer. Nigeria’s young people should not have to risk their lives for something as basic as writing an exam,” he said.
Obi stressed that education is not a privilege but a necessity for national growth and development.
“You cannot genuinely seek development while denying your youth access to safe and quality education. You cannot claim to care for your citizens while endangering teenagers every examination season,” he said.
He urged the government to urgently invest in expanding the country’s educational infrastructure, creating more universities, and making access to education safer and more convenient for all Nigerian children.
“Our young people deserve better. We must create an environment where education is easily accessible and safe, and we must act now to secure their future,” Obi concluded.
JAMB Responds to Peter Obi
Reacting to Obi’s concerns, JAMB, via its official handle @PeterObi, clarified that examinations are scheduled to commence at 8:00am, not 6:00am as suggested.
“Your Excellency, I must assert that our examination is scheduled to commence at 8:00am, not 6:00am. While verification and other clearance processes begin at 6:30am, it is imperative that candidates are afforded adequate time to settle in before the exam begins,” JAMB stated.
The examination body explained that the early verification was necessary to curb lateness among candidates, noting that Nigerians tend to arrive late when only the start time is emphasized.
“This structured timeline is essential to ensure that all candidates are properly prepared and can perform to the best of their abilities,” JAMB added.
Despite the clarification, Obi’s comments have sparked renewed discussions on the need for urgent educational reforms to better serve and protect young Nigerians.
