The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, during a courtsey visit to Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state, during a two day international literacy day conference, gave an insight to the high level of illiteracy in the country.
The programme which was organized by the National Commission for Mass Education was aimed at reinforcing the need for education of every child in the country.
Adamu described the illiteracy rate as alarming, saying between 65 and 75 million people out of the estimated 170 million citizens of Nigeria were uneducated.
The Minister who was represented by Jonathan Mbaka, the Director of Basic and Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education also said that the Federal Government was targeting out-of-school children.
He said, “Education is the bedrock of any country’s development and any country that does not educate its populace is bound to fail.
“Unfortunately, in Nigeria we have a very large population of illiterates; the illiterates figure, considering our population, is unbecoming,
“The government is doing all it can to reduce the number of children that are out of school.
“This includes the adoption of inclusive education where every Nigerian will be given the opportunity to go to school, regardless of background, ethnicity and gender,’’
Mr. Adamu commended the governor’s wife, Aisha Bagudu, for reducing the number of out-of-school children and illiterates in Kebbi State through her Mass Almajiri Literacy and Poverty Alleviation Initiative (MALPAI).
Responding, the governor said that most of the security challenges the country faced were manifestations of the level of illiteracy in the country.
“We have an army of people whose inability to read can be exploited by divisive elements in the country.”
Mr. Bagudu commended them for ignoring the fears and tension created by a few group of people by assembling in the state to deliberate on how to reduce illiteracy in the country.
“I am very proud that we are hosting eminent delegates from across the federation at the time like this, where there is tension and fear in Nigeria.
“For you to ignore fears that a few people cannot intimidate us is commendable.
“Our destiny remains in our hands and not allowing inconsequential elements to determine our fate is also commendable,’’ he said.
The Governor also stressed on the need to educate the northerners saying that lack of understanding of the Quran has led to Boko Haram insurgency, which is as a result of illiteracy.