70% of Nigerian children can’t read simple sentences — Official

A recent report reveals that approximately 70% of Nigerian children under the age of ten cannot read or comprehend simple sentences, signaling a significant learning crisis in the country. This concerning statistic was shared by the National Coordinator of Human Capital Development 2.0 and Special Adviser to the President of the National Economic Council and Climate Change, Rukaiya el-Rufai, during a media engagement on the nation's human capital development strategy in Abuja.

El-Rufai emphasized that merely being physically present in school does not guarantee that children are acquiring the essential literacy and numeracy skills required for productive economic participation. She pointed out that the ability of young Nigerians to acquire sophisticated skills needed by industries is directly impacted by the quality of learning.

She provided an example of the Dangote Refinery, where Nigerian workers were unable to be trained for highly technical positions due to a lack of foundational knowledge in subjects like geometry.

The coordinator highlighted that this learning gap is not solely the responsibility of the education sector, as it affects the overall ability of young Nigerians to acquire the necessary skills for various industries. She cited the Dangote Refinery as an illustration, explaining that even for complex jobs, basic skills like geometry are essential. This deficiency poses a challenge for Nigeria to produce a workforce capable of securing well-paying employment.

To address this crisis, the National Human Capital Development Programme is focusing on health, education, skills, and livelihoods. Six priority indicators have been selected, including under-five mortality, stunting, immunization, out-of-school children, learning poverty, and youth not in education, employment, or training. The programme aims to shift from merely measuring activities to tracking measurable outcomes that can improve Nigeria's Human Capital Index.

El-Rufai emphasized that the programme's approach is tailored to each state's unique challenges, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all solution is inadequate. The programme plans to utilize data to identify areas requiring urgent intervention and resource allocation. Additionally, the Director of Advocacy and Communications at the programme, Ms Doosuur Zasha, stressed the importance of investing in human capital for Nigeria's economic development and called for increased media scrutiny to ensure accountability in human capital spending.