70% of under-10 children can’t read simple sentences — Official

A shocking report reveals that approximately 70 percent of Nigerian children under the age of ten are unable to read and comprehend simple sentences, highlighting the country's burgeoning learning crisis. The National Human Capital Development Programme's National Coordinator, Rukaiya el-Rufai, disclosed this startling statistic during a media engagement in Abuja on Monday.

She emphasized that merely attending school does not guarantee children are acquiring essential literacy and numeracy skills necessary for productive economic participation. El-Rufai expressed deep concern over the learning poverty, noting that it stands at 70 percent, and the numeracy and English abilities from ages 10 to 12 are even lower, according to the World Bank's estimate of 85 percent.

This learning crisis poses a significant challenge, as it directly impacts the capacity of young Nigerians to acquire the advanced skills demanded by industries.

El-Rufai drew attention to the case of the Dangote Refinery, where workers lack the precise technical skills required for their jobs due to inadequate basic education. She used this example to illustrate the broader issue, stating that without addressing deficiencies in fundamental education, Nigeria cannot train its workforce for sophisticated tasks.

Consequently, the Human Capital Development 2.0 program is prioritizing health, education, skills, and livelihoods to enhance Nigeria's human capital indicators. The program, implemented through the National Economic Council, has shifted its focus from merely counting activities to tracking measurable outcomes that can improve Nigeria's Human Capital Index.

This strategy involves dividing the country into regional blocks to develop tailored human capital development plans, acknowledging that solutions cannot be one-size-fits-all due to significant regional disparities in challenges.