UN Decries Illiteracy Rate In Nigeria, Others

Wednesday, 23 June 2010 00:00 From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja News - National

THE need to scale up efforts towards eradicating pervading illiteracy among the E-9 group of countries formed the fulcrum of discussions at the on-going Ministerial Review Meeting of member-countries in Abuja.

Countries in the E-9 group are those with a very high number of illiterates who cannot read, write or communicate in any way. They include Nigeria, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Egypt, Brazil China and Pakistan.

Coming barely two years after a similar forum took place in Bali, Indonesia, the Abuja meeting, according to Director-General, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, (UNESCO), Ms. Irina Bokova, is aimed at giving the E-9 countries the opportunity of assessing the successes recorded and the challenges they currently face.

Nigeria assumed the Presidency of the E-9 group at the three-day summit, taking over from Indonesia. The Nigerian Presidency of the group would last for two years.

According to official records, Nigeria remains the only E-9 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) facing serious challenges of turning around the illiteracy rate among its youths and adults by the 2015 timeline set to achieve education for all (EFA) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In her welcome remarks, Nigeria’s Education Minister, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, acknowledged the challenges when she said: “We recognise the fact that EFA goals will not be achieved globally if they are not achieved in the E-9 countries, because some countries may face greater cllenges than others in meeting the EFA goals by the 2015 target date.

“We also recognise that meeting the 2015 timeline is of greater urgency now more than ever before. From all available evidence, the outcomes of the mid-term review of the progress of EFA published in 2008 EFA Global Monitoring Report is not too encouraging, despite the increased political will of member-countries.”

According to Rufai, the conference theme, “Literacy for Development,” is a statement to the fact that it was no longer tenable to question the relevance of literacy and non-formal education to national development, noting that literacy is development, empowerment and a basic human right.
She added: “The focus, therefore, for all E-9 countries is to aggressively and systematically scale up literacy and adult learning and education policy, planning, statistics, programmes, monitoring and evaluation in order to improve quality of literacy, delivery, especially in the area of transforming the lives of all citizens through political economic, civic and social empowerment.”

However, President Goodluck Jonathan said in a speech read by Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo that Nigeria recognised the power of literacy as instrument of development.

His words: “If we plan to get our people out of poverty, to join the global information super highway and hope to be counted among countries with developed systems in science and technology and a force to be reckoned with in the world’s socio economic and political arena, we must empower our people through acquisition of literacy and numeracy.”

Bokova urged the member-countries to show strong political will in addressing the challenges posed by the scourge of illiteracy.

[size=13pt]ROFLMAO!!![/size]

Kobojunkie:

[size=13pt]ROFLMAO!!![/size]

abeg, lemme laugh with you

This is actually not funny, but quite sad.

However, I know people who may be illiterate when it comes to English, but they are well versed in their language. Does that make them illiterate?

EzeUche:

This is actually not funny, but quite sad.

However, I know people who may be illiterate when it comes to English, but they are well versed in their language. Does that make them illiterate?

Statistics on illiteracy allows for people who can write in various languages. It does not have to be english.

I dont think Nigeria is amongst the 9 most illiterate countries there are worse.

EzeUche:

This is actually not funny, but quite sad.

However, I know people who may be illiterate when it comes to English, but they are well versed in their language. Does that make them illiterate?

Technically, yes. Illiterate in English. You can't communicate in the global world with just your language.
The world is global, my dear. It does not begin or start at the boundaries of your village [not your village, talking in general]


But are you generally illiterate, nah.

SEFAGO:

Statistics on illiteracy allows for people who can write in various languages. It does not have to be english.

I dont think Nigeria is amongst the 9 most illiterate countries there are worse.

I presume that they mean in a European language like French, Spanish, English or Portuguese.

However, why don't they put that same standard to India or China?

God, you guys are getting it wrong lol. I am too tired write now to find the methodology for determining literacy, but under the definition- an igbo man who can write igbo quite well would be considered literate I am sure. This is however speculation, I have forgotten how literacy is determined but it's not exclusive to the romance languages of western europe.

We need African languages spoken in Africa instead of European languages in my honest opinion.

Swahili should be the official language in East Africa and Hausa should be the official language (Igbos don't kill me) in West Africa since it is so widely spoken.

FL Gators:

Technically, yes. Illiterate in English. You can't communicate in the global world with just your language.
The world is global, my dear. It does not begin or start at the boundaries of your village [not your village, talking in general]


But are you generally illiterate, nah.

I beg to differ- in some countries, speaking english is generally frowned against especially the French who are a proud people. Lots of countries in Europe prolly dont even have as many english speakers as Nigeria. Its only in Nigeria where we are proud of speaking oyibo language lol

SEFAGO:

I beg to differ- in some countries, speaking english is generally frowned against especially the French who are a proud people. Lots of countries in Europe prolly dont even have as many english speakers as Nigeria. Its only in Nigeria where we are proud of speaking oyibo language lol

Actually in Europe, you are considered lower class if you cannot speak more than one language. English is widely spoken in Europe as well as the indigenous language in the region. Go to Sweden, Germany and France and you will find many English speakers. Spain is the only exception though.

^ You are speaking of western europe and maybe the scandinavian countries. Go behind the iron curtain lol

SEFAGO:

^ You are speaking of western europe and maybe the scandinavian countries. Go behind the iron curtain lol

True, but remember Eastern Europe the Lingua Franca is the Slavic languages. From Russia to Serbia, you have slavic speakers.

Countries in the E-9 group are those with a very high number of illiterates who cannot read, write or communicate in any way.

It is not about English. It is about being unable to communicate (read/write) in any way. English Language is NEVER the measure of literacy.

SEFAGO:

I beg to differ- in some countries, speaking english is generally frowned against especially the French who are a proud people. Lots of countries in Europe prolly dont even have as many english speakers as Nigeria. Its only in Nigeria where we are proud of speaking oyibo language lol

SEFAGO, plz go and look up the methodology for determining literacy. Now I'm really curious.
I think I have it all wrong.

How many of you guys can read your native Nigerian languages much less write in it. Even if they allow for native languages Nigeria is still disadvantaged.

Nigeria is a country in denial.

FL Gators:

Technically, yes. Illiterate in English. You can't communicate in the global world with just your language.
The world is global, my dear. It does not begin or start at the boundaries of your village [not your village, talking in general]


But are you generally illiterate, nah.

if the yardstick that is being used to determine literacy is strictly ability to speak and write English language correctly, then more than half of Investment bank executives worldwide who are known to have IQ of above 180 and can do complex quantitative problems without taking up a pen much less a calculator will definitely fall under the illiterate class!

One only becomes illiterate in English if he can't even read in English. . . .and individual whose ability is limited to reading sentences constructed in English cannot in any way be described as an illiterate in English!

Literacy is common sense,the ability to put one and two together to make three,been able to tackle the basics and the essence of life itself.

Over five million adult population in britain can't read and write,yet they are english.

According to official records, Nigeria remains the only E-9 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) facing serious challenges of turning around the illiteracy rate among its youths and adults by the 2015 timeline set to achieve education for all (EFA) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

So where exactly is Nigeria making appreciable progress? Must the name of this country be mentioned among the never-do-wells at all times? This is really pathetic!

ziddy:

How many of you guys can read your native Nigerian languages much less write in it. Even if they allow for native languages Nigeria is still disadvantaged.

You dey mind us??[size=13pt] ROFLMAO![/size]

desgiezd:

So where exactly is Nigeria making appreciable progress? Must the name of this country be mentioned among the never-do-wells at all times? This is really pathetic!

How can there be any progress when since 2007, there has been next to no attention paid the education sector. Your own Ministry of Education's Website has been down/useless mode for over THREE years now.lol

redsun:

Literacy is common sense,the ability to put one and two together to make three,been able to tackle the basics and the essence of life itself.

Over five million adult population in britain can't read and write,yet they are english.

One in Six British adults lacks the literacy skills of an 11-year-old
Over 7 million British adults are illiterates.

~Sauron~:

One in Six British adults lacks the literacy skills of an 11-year-old
Over 7 million British adults are illiterates.

Seriously, lets leave Britain out of it (or any part of the West or East for that matter). Their problems are much less than ours.
We have a very serious problem in Nigeria with iliteracy and it is serious to the point that its a national security issue. for example 1 million people are planning to match on Abuja in support of the paedophile senator, Yerima. Guess who will be making up the numbers?

Beaf:

Seriously, lets leave Britain out of it (or any part of the West or East for that matter). Their problems are much less than ours.
We have a very serious problem in Nigeria with iliteracy and it is serious to the point that its a national security issue. for example 1 million people are planning to match on Abuja in support of the paedophile senator, Yerima. Guess who will be making up the numbers?

I can guarantee 60% of them can read & write but will still join in the march for the perks they will get.
These things are political/greed. . . . . .nothing to do with literacy levels.


Abject poverty is our biggest problem.
Eradicate poverty and Nigeria would be loads better.

^
In some ways you are right. It is more like abysmally poor quality of education.
It might not be stack iliteracy in cases like the child witches down south or almajiri's up North, but there is a strong correlation between poverty and quality of education.

Beaf:

^
In some ways you are right. It is more like abysmally poor quality of education.
It might not be stack iliteracy in cases like the child witches down south or almajiri's up North, but there is a strong correlation between poverty and quality of education.

Well. . . . . . .
When there's abject poverty, investing in quality education becomes a mammoth task.
However, Nigerians are so hungry they will kill their siblings to eat. . . . . .The 1 million march in support of Yerima is because of HUNGER.

Nijirians aar nut eeleetaret.

Wi spik guud inglesh

^^^^ lets make up numbers from thin air so we can live in denial a little longer
[size=13pt]ROFLMAO!!![/size]

so sad! upon all the poly, uni, springing up here and there *shakes head*

Sauron, also education is the last thing on an hungry man's mind. can one study under hunger? NO

you see the vending machines and cafeterias all over campus and dorms and wonder how students in nig cope without food.
i see why many of them fail.

Its good to read through and understand an article before making comments.
The heading of this article connotes falsehood. Nigeria is not in anyway one of the most illiterate countries in the world.

If you look at the countries listed as E9, you'd find that they are all high population centers with over 80 million persons. That should tell you that it is the quantum of uneducated rather than the percentage that the UNESCO used in lumping up the E9 together.
Brazil for instance has a 90% literacy rate, Indonesia has 92% and China has 93%, yet these countries are listed in the E9.
Ghana with 59%, Nepal with 48%, Senegal with 39% and Mali with 24% are all missing from the list.

Infact, Nigeria has pretty fair literacy rate compared with many other developing countries. For southern Nigeria, the rates would be comparable to the best amongst the developing world. The pathetic state of illiteracy in the north pulls back the figure for Nigeria, yet collectively, we have a 69% literacy rate.

If there is one area that Nigerian leaders haven't done horribly, it is in the provision of Quantity Education. We have so many education outlets. It is in Quality Education that the Nigerian system is horrible. In the North though, there definitely is  major problem with illiteracy.