Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stated that Nigeria’s development will be challenging, if not impossible, given that over 67 percent of women in the North are illiterate and a substantial portion of the country’s population is socially and economically disadvantaged due to illiteracy. He mentioned this while speaking at the 23rd annual conference of Women in Business Management and Public Service (WIMBIZ), which was held in Lagos and had as its theme “Dream. Dare. Do.” According to him, the elite must be a voice for positive change, influencing the discourse and standing up for people from different socioeconomic and educational backgrounds.
Nigeria continues to struggle with one of the worst rates of Illiteracy on the continent, which presents problems for every facet of society, from healthcare to economic development, and fuels social unrest. Numerous organizations, both inside and outside of Nigeria, have emphasized the significance of addressing this issue in order to make significant progress, making it a national priority. According to the most recent data from UNESCO and Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 31% of Nigerian adults lack literacy, with Literacy rates being significantly lower in rural regions and especially among women.
The nation’s development is already being hampered.
Nearly half of all Nigerian children are not enrolled in any kind of formal education, and nearly 20 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are out of school, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This is due to cultural customs, financial limitations and Insecurity in some areas, particularly in the northern part of the country. This figure indicates that a sizable portion of adults do not possess the fundamental reading abilities required to engage in Nigeria’s quickly evolving economy. The nation’s development is already being hampered by this high proportion of illiteracy.
Economically, illiteracy limits people’s access to skilled employment prospects, which raises Nigeria’s high Unemployment rate, which the NBS estimates is currently about 33%. Additionally, illiteracy hinders entrepreneurship as people who lack basic literacy and numeracy skills find it difficult to handle business accounts or comply with regulations, making them susceptible to economic shocks, thereby prolonging the Poverty cycle. Alongside negative economic effects, illiteracy makes health inequities worse because those who lack literacy may find it difficult to comprehend medical information or follow prescription instructions.
Social, economic and political sphere may suffer greatly.
Both domestic and foreign institutions are concerned about Nigeria’s illiteracy problem. To increase access to elementary education, the Federal Ministry of Education in Nigeria commenced a number of programs, such as the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program. However, these programs’ efficacy has been hampered by a lack of political will, corruption, and inadequate money. The World Bank, UNESCO, and UNICEF have all underlined the necessity of increased government funding for literacy and Education initiatives as well as a stronger emphasis on reaching underserved populations.
However, there could be serious and far-reaching repercussions if Nigeria’s high percentage of illiteracy is not addressed. The country’s progress in all spheres—economic, social, political, and environmental—may suffer greatly if this current situation persists. This level of illiteracy could probably continue to exacerbate poverty, increase social inequality, and feed a vicious cycle of Underdevelopment that could prevent the nation from reaching its full potential. Nigeria’s potential and achievement of both national and international development goals would be impeded by the developmental repercussions.
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At the global level, Nigeria’s high rate of illiteracy may continue to harm the nation’s image, making it more difficult for it to draw in foreign capital, obtain development financing, and form fruitful alliances. This might potentially jeopardize the nation’s capacity to achieve global development objectives, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For instance, SDG 4 demands inclusive, egalitarian, high-quality education, whereas SDG 1 seeks to end poverty. Without educational advancement, Nigeria’s capacity to achieve these objectives is still constrained, which could harm its reputation internationally and restrict its involvement in international development partnerships.