A staggering wave of disappointment has swept through Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling economic heart, as more than half of its public school students flunked the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC). The shocking 54.3% failure rate, revealed on April 24, 2025, has left parents, teachers, and students reeling, with dreams of university admission hanging in the balance. Despite the state pouring billions into education, this bombshell raises a haunting question: is Nigeria’s education system failing its youth when it matters most?
The grim news came straight from Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, Lagos State’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, during a briefing in Ikeja marking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second-term anniversary. Out of 58,188 public school students who sat the exam, 31,596 failed to secure credit passes in English Language and Mathematics, the golden ticket to higher education. That’s a crushing blow for young Nigerians like Kemi Ade, a 17-year-old from Agege, who told Dawn Herald her hopes of studying medicine are now on hold. “I studied so hard, but it wasn’t enough,” she said, her voice heavy with defeat. For many, this failure means costly exam resits or a detour to uncertain vocational paths.
The Lagos government shelled out ₦1.577 billion to cover WAEC fees for every student, a bold move to ensure no one was left behind. Yet, the results paint a stark picture of a system struggling to deliver. Alli-Balogun called the failure rate “unacceptable” and vowed to tighten the screws with new policies, like stricter promotion rules and urgent meetings with school principals across Lagos’ six education districts. To stop funding leaks, the state ran a biometric registration drive, verifying 56,134 students for the 2025 WAEC, ensuring only eligible candidates benefit from free exams. On a brighter note, exam cheating dropped sharply, with just 118 malpractice cases recorded in 2024, a sign that integrity is improving.
But why did so many students fall short? The answer lies in deeper cracks—overcrowded classrooms, teachers stretched thin, and a curriculum that often leans on memorizing facts rather than solving problems. Nigeria’s broader WAEC results tell a similar story: in 2024, 503,275 candidates nationwide failed English and Mathematics, with the national pass rate dipping to 72.12% from 79.81% in 2023 (Punch, August 12, 2024). Lagos, despite its wealth, isn’t immune. The state’s Eko Learners’ Support Programme, broadcasting lessons on Lagos Television and platforms like YouTube, aims to bridge gaps, but many students lack electricity or devices to tune in.
For Lagosians, this isn’t just about numbers—it’s about futures on the line. Failing WAEC can trap young people in a cycle of resits or low-paying jobs, especially with Nigeria’s youth unemployment rate hovering above 50% in 2024 (World Bank, 2024). The government’s promise of reform is a start, but without fixing the roots—better teacher training, modern classrooms, and a curriculum that sparks critical thinking—the next generation risks falling through the cracks. As Lagos stares down this education crisis, the stakes couldn’t be higher: will Nigeria’s youth get the tools to soar, or will they be left grounded by a system that’s failing to keep up?
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