*STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE*

*WE OWE OUR PEOPLE DUTY TO EDUCATE & EMPOWER THEM, SAYS OSINBAJO*

**VP joins Kebbi Governor, wife to mark Mass Literacy Day*

**Says access to education ticket to enjoyment of all human, civil and socio-political rights*



Leaders at all levels should consider the education of their people, especially children and girls, as a duty, enabling them access more socio-economic opportunities and live better lives, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this in Abuja on Saturday evening at an event organized to mark the 2021 Mass Literacy Day by the MALLPAI Foundation, a non-governmental organisation founded in 2009 by Hajiya Aisha Atiku Bagudu, the wife of the Kebbi State Governor.

MALLPAI, which means in full “Mass Literacy for the Less Privileged and Almajiri Initiative” addresses concerns around illiteracy and out-of-school children, with a commitment to enhancing the quality of life by supporting and empowering initiatives that improve access to health, education and agriculture opportunities for Nigerians.

According to the Vice President, “we owe our people the duty to educate them. We owe our people a duty to lift their minds to the level where they can benefit maximally from their environment and give benefit to others.”

The VP further noted that access to "education is a ticket to the full enjoyment of all human, civil and socio-political rights.

"So, at the most basic level, the ability to read and write, not just in one’s own language, but in global languages as well is crucial. To be deprived of education is to be deprived of the means of pursuit of a dignified existence where one can fully contest or collaborate with others for the benefits that life offers."

Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo said, “every study confirms that education, especially of women, has a multiplier effect on everything around them. It usually means a longer life span for themselves and their children. It means that they are less likely to die of communicable diseases, since they are more likely to understand best practices in hygiene, sanitation and follow useful materials on health care.”

While commending Hajiya Bagudu for her commitment and hard work, the VP noted that, “I truly believe that the more lives you transform in the communities you serve, the more the mind-set will shift in those communities towards embracing formal education for all.”

Prof. Osinbajo then commended the work of the MALLPAI Foundation, since 2009, for  "doing the difficult work of improving access to education and creating skills acquisition opportunities for the poor and underprivileged communities."

He observed that getting disadvantaged out-of-school children into formal education is a massive challenge, especially where,  in some cases, "the prevailing culture is an obstacle."

But he noted that the by the work of the Foundation it had been shown, especially in the case of girls, that by being sensitive and understanding it is possible to surmount socio-cultural beliefs and practices that hinder access of girls to education.

“What is even more touching for me is that you have included those who were left behind as children, and are creating new opportunities for them as adults, through skills acquisition training and financial aid,” the VP added.

Other dignitaries at the event besides Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State and his wife, included Senators Smart Adeyemi and Olubunmi Adetunmbi; Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba; Deputy Minister of Education, Malawi, Madalitso Wirima Kambauwa; former First Lady of Nigeria, Hajiya Maryam Abacha, and the wife of the Chief of Army Staff, Hajiya Salamatu Yahaya, among others.


*Laolu Akande*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity*
*Office of the Vice President*
*19th September, 2021*

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Education need to put place priority especially for our young ones and it is free and responsibility of state government to ensure this, this will reduce the number of out of school children in the country m

I wish he addressed the issues on our minds.

Education is very important to our youth is the key for better tomorrow

Always addressing issues in the peripheral.

A new word for silence+fear would be created. Sth like osibanjophobia.

Seun:
I wish he addressed the issues on our minds.

which is?

AbokiFX and the likelihood of hyper-inflation since the govt is printing and borrowing money aggressively and trying to hide the true exchange rate.

Pretentious and condescending as always

The only thing this man does very well is to talk about things needed,has he ever tried to sit down his boss and talk sense to him?

DoctorDree:
The only thing this man does very well is to talk about things needed,has he ever tried to sit down his boss and talk sense to him?

That is not his duty. That will be an unreasonable thing to do in all the circumstances!

These people think suppressing information that reveal pressing issues can help bury them. That's a chess-like approach to a practical issue.
This is the endproduct of sacrificing crops for cows. The endproduct of using food security to press for a counter productive northern amnesty for Fulanis. We thank God locust haven't done their predicted damaged.

Seun:
AbokiFX and the likelihood of hyper-inflation since the govt is printing and borrowing money aggressively and trying to hide the true exchange rate.

When are you going to regulate signatures that are insultive like the one this your post replied was carrying? too carries one very insulting one that calls anyone replying him with contrary opinion a swine.

TheRareGem1:
Education need to put place priority especially for our young ones and it is free and responsibility of state government to ensure this, this will reduce the number of out of school children in the country m

All the ones being educated for free, what are they producing? You think oil will flow forever. It is still flowing and we already knee deep in embarrassing debts as a nation. What happens when its flow halts? Same oil money is being used to fight those who say "no to education" and yet you are talking about educating every one as if it is by force or by fire to have sense. No emphasis on balancing output and input in this nation. We just pump more oil for money and expects a leaky system to balance up itself.

Standing5:
When are you going to regulate signatures that are insultive like the one this your post replied was carrying? too carries one very insulting one that calls anyone replying him with contrary opinion a swine.

Seun.
Rule 8.