Why Mrs Saraki wants increased investment in literacy

-Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki on Tuesday, February 9 has underscored the importance of education in national development

-Mrs Saraki called on the government at all levels to increase investment in literacy

-An estimated 65 million Nigerians have insufficient literary skills 

Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki on Tuesday, February 9 has underscored the importance of education in national development and called on the government at all levels to increase investment in literacy because it is capable of leading the country into a higher level of economic self-sufficiency, poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Mrs Saraki, who is also the President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), stated this in her speech as the special guest of honour at the closing ceremony of the President’s inter-university secondary schools debate championship national finals held in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

She noted that education is only effective when it is founded on the key elements of literacy.

“Without literacy, we would not be here today to celebrate and participate in the national finals of the President’s Inter-University Secondary Schools Debate Championship.

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“This is because the power of literacy gives us the ability to read, write, speak and listen in a way that helps us communicate effectively as adults, children, students and debaters.

“Moreover, literacy gives us the capacity to apply these skills, while discerning and interpreting information, in relation to others and the world around us,” she said.

She noted that according to a survey conducted by UNESCO in 2015, an estimated 65 million Nigerians have insufficient literary skills.

She further stated that research has indicated that individuals with good literary skills are more likely to have better health, better jobs, better pay and better self-esteem than their counterparts, as they are able to take better advantage of opportunities.

She added that poor literary skills have been positively correlated to a degree of poverty, poor health outcomes, low productivity, violence, social vulnerability and economic deprivation currently evidenced in Nigeria.

 

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