The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono, has aforementioned nearly sixty million Nigerians are illiterates.
He said this illustrious on Thursday at the federal government college Otobi, during the inauguration of a pilot skill acquisation Centre for the North Central Geo-Political Zone.
The permanent secretary expressed regret that the illiteracy rate among the youths and adults is high, saying that the literacy level at the lower cadre of the colleges is also alarming.
He additionally assured that the skill acquisation centres will abate the high proportion of illiteracy in the country.
According to him, skill acquisation Centres to be established in 104 federal government faculties (FGCs) are geared toward reducing the high rate of illiteracy at the low cadre of the workers of the institutions, stressing that the federal government designed the literacy programme to cater for them and others in the host communities.
He aforementioned literacy was both a social and human right issue and beckoned on the learners at the pilot centre to remain committed and take their studies with all seriousness.
According to him, the essence of the scheme is to fit into the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly SDG number four which highlights inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of long learning opportunities.
He explained that the programme would equip its beneficiaries with acquirement and acquirement skills to be in a position handle challenges of life.
An officer from the office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, on SDGs, Mr Stephen Ojo, applauded the foresight of the education ministry in designing the programme and pledged to provide technical support to see to the success of the scheme.
He stressed that the scheme would help facilitate capacity building and acquisation of skills of all the participants.
