Ex Nigerian President,Obasanjo Wants African Leaders To Focus On Provision Of Quality Education
The Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged African nations to provide quality education in order to ensure peace and tolerance in the continent.
Obasanjo made the call on Wednesday at
the ongoing International Symposium for
the launching of African Initiative for
education, peace and development in
Cotonou, Benin Republic.
He said without education, no peace effort
would yield any positive result, adding that
the most of the intolerant sections of the
African society were illiterate.
The former president, who gave example of
the lingering Boko Haram insurgency in
Nigeria, said the worse hit part of the
country, North East geo-political zone, was
the least educated.
He attributed such to the level of literacy in
the region, adding the insurgents were able
to penetrate the region due to level of
education in the area.
The former president, who compared the
level of literacy between the political zones
in Nigeria , said while the South West, as at
2010, had 77.9 per cent of literacy, South
East achieved 66.66.8 and the North East
had only 18.1 per cent.
On the level of literacy among women
within same period, Obasanjo said the
South West had achieved 79.9 per cent;
South East, 69.6 per cent and North East
only 15.4 per cent.
He said the South West, which was the most
educated region, was more tolerant,
peaceful and developed section of the
country.
He said the Boko Haram insurgents found it
easier to penetrate the North East because
of its level of education.
Obasanjo, therefore, urged participants of
the symposium to find solution to the
lingering crises in parts of Africa, be it
political, religious or cultural.
He also urged traditional, religious and
political leaders to establish organisations
to train youths on crafts to enable them be
self-sufficient and prevent them from
joining terror groups. (NAN)
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