Boko Haram states have lowest literacy level in Nigeria - NPC Gbola Subair, Abuja - 03.09.2009 THE literacy data of the 2006 population and housing census have revealed that states affected by Boko Haram sectarian violence have the lowest literacy level in the country. The states include Bauchi, Borno, Yobe and Niger. According to the data released on Wednesday in Abuja by the National Population Commission (NPC), Yobe State, the headquarters of the Boko Haram sect, recorded the lowest literacy level in the country with 32.51 per cent, followed by Borno, with 32.59 per cent literacy level. Niger State, the data revealed, had a literacy level of 41.67 per cent, while Bauchi State recorded 44.75 per cent. According to the data, Lagos State leads with highest literacy level of 88.45 per cent while Anambra and Imo states took the second position with literacy level of 87.03 per cent, while Ekiti State followed with 86.78 literacy level. Others are Abia, 85.23 per cent; Akwa Ibom, 83.37 per cent; Bayelsa, 73.52 per cent; Cross River, 74.20 per cent; Delta, 77.93 per cent; Enugu, 77.52 per cent; Edo, 75.64 per cent; Federal Capital Territory, 75.54 per cent; Kogi, 72.47 per cent; Ogun, 75.71 per cent; Ondo, 78.43 per cent; Osun, 82.02 per cent and Oyo, 74.67 per cent. The rest are Gombe, 50.94 per cent; Jigawa, 54.24 per cent; Kaduna, 62.94 per cent; Kwara, 62.19 per cent; Plateau, 58.58 per cent; Sokoto,39.74 per cent; Taraba, 47.89 per cent and Zamfara, 48.89 per cent In his address, the NPC chairman, Chief Samu'ila Makama, said the literacy data being presented was the first attempt to disseminate the priority tables to a wide range of stakeholders The data presentationis a fulfilment of the promises of the NPC to provide the nation with reliable demographic data.

I am not celebrating this statistic here even though my state appeared in the 2nd position. Why am not celebrating is because this is another way to purnish people from Lagos, Anambra, Imo & all those that made the first 20 in the list.

For children from the first 20states in this thing to get admission into federal colleges (unity schools) & universities will become tougher now.

But for children from those last 10states will be getting admission into anything without even passing common entrance exam or JAMB.

I pity children from the southern Nigeria because this statistic will increase their suffering in getting admission.