Obi Tasks Private Schools On Nigeria’s Educational Rebirth

Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has challenged private school operators to take a frontline role in reversing Nigeria’s educational decline, warning that the country cannot attain meaningful development while neglecting its schools.

Speaking at the 2025 NAPPS International Conference and Exhibition in Umuahia on Wednesday, Obi said the nation’s current economic and social instability is rooted in long years of poor investment in education and healthcare, the “two pillars of national progress”.

He noted that with more than 60 per cent of children now enrolled in private basic schools, the private sector has effectively become central to Nigeria’s educational future.

Obi urged school proprietors to prioritise teacher quality, curriculum reform, relevant technology adoption, and strategic partnerships with government.

He called for policy reforms that would support affordability and quality, such as reduced taxation on schools, incentives for learning-resource providers, and a comprehensive national framework for teacher development.

Nigeria, he stressed, must demonstrate its priorities in budget allocations and delivery, not rhetoric.

NAPPS National President, Chief Yomi Otubela, thanked Obi for his longstanding advocacy and said the pressures on private schools demand stronger collaboration with government.

He later conferred on him the NAPPS National Role Model Award for exemplary leadership.

Obi, recalling his tenure as Anambra State governor, said he supported both public and private schools because “education is a collective responsibility”.

The conference continues with expert sessions and exhibitions on innovation for a transitioning economy.