The recent mass failure in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has sparked national concern, pointing to a disturbing but overlooked factor: the high cost of healthy food, particularly protein-rich diets essential for brain development and academic performance
According to data released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), more than 70 per cent of candidates scored below the minimum benchmark in the 2024/2025 UTME. While many have suggested issues such as inadequate curriculum coverage and outdated learning facilities, experts now warn that Nigeria’s deepening food crisis may have caused the problem.
Latest reports have shown the adverse effects of inflation on everyday Nigerians. The cost of protein-rich food items such as eggs, fish, beans, and meat has doubled or even tripled in some areas. This is a consequence of economic reforms under the Tinubu administration, including removing fuel subsidies and floating the naira, which have made food and transportation prices soar.
The link between nutrition and cognitive performance is scientifically established. The brain’s ability to process, retain, and apply information is significantly reduced without enough protein. Many students went into the UTME physically hungry and mentally exhausted.
Social media threads have exposed how families can no longer afford basic meals, let alone balanced diets.
There are also visible signs of malnutrition among students under Tinubu’s administration.
You can’t expect excellence from children who come to school on an empty stomach. They’re exhausted, anxious, and unable to focus.
Critics argue that failure to address the food crisis as a public education emergency risks worsening inequality.
We are watching a generation collapse under the weight of avoidable hunger. This is not just a failure of exams. It is a failure of leadership, planning, and care.
As Nigeria grapples with the ripple effects of economic reform, the message from health professionals and educators is clear. Without urgent intervention to make nutritious food accessible and affordable, mass academic failure may become the new normal.
