50 m!!!!!!!!

The 50 million illiterate Nigerians

Monday, February 16, 2009

The word illiterate despite being an all-embracing word in different areas of application, simply means not able to read and write. It also means to be ignorant in a particular field or endeavor. And in conventional terms, the walls of a classroom, nurtured by a robust-thriving Educational System, are generally regarded as the best means through which an individual can transform from being an illiterate, to being a literate. The transformation process also equips one mentally to be prepared for active participation in the labour force and ultimately, contribute to the growth and economic well-being of the nation. How well this is done, becomes another matter entirely.

The importance of this transformation process has made nations to leave nothing to chance in ensuring a solid educational system for its populace. But looking at the Nigerian situation, the issue of having this foundation in place to educate its masses is quite pathetic and unfortunately far from reality.

I guess many were surprised when the Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, recently disclosed that no fewer than 50 million adult Nigerians are illiterates, which effectively places the country among the least educationally developed countries in the world.

The Minister added that over 7 million Nigerian Children of school age have not had the privilege of acquiring formal education which has left a yarning gap in the education of the populace. Dr. Egwu made this startling revelation during the commissioning of the Otukpe Study Centre of the National Open University of Nigeria, which was built and handed over to the Federal Government by the Senate President, David Mark.

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