One in three Nigerians illiterate, says education minister

Adamu Adamu, minister of education, says Nigeria has about 60 million illiterate youth and adult.

Adamu said this on Wednesday at the 2018 international literacy day celebration held in Kano state.

Nigeria currently has an estimated population of 180 million citizens.

The minister who was represented by Prinzo James, deputy director of basic and secondary education, ministry of education, said out of this figure, females accounted for nearly 60 percent of the population, with 11 million children out of school.

He said the increasing low level of literacy skills by millions of learners who completed some formal school education made the situation more complicated.

He also said the present state of affairs called for urgent attention as the country strives to ensure the attainment of SDGs by 2030.

“With these unwholesome statistics in our hands, it becomes evident that concerted efforts are required in order to accelerate the processes for combating illiteracy among children, youths and adults,” he said.

“Therefore, every effort aimed at bringing together multiple stakeholders should be committed to advancing literacy and lifelong learning, and will receive the support of the ministry of education.

“I would like to assure you that preparations are underway by the federal government to launch a national mass literacy campaign with a view to addressing the high rate of youth and adult illiteracy in the country.”