[dropcap]A[/dropcap]side from being the extreme poverty capital of the world, Nigeria today is one of the top three countries in the world that harbours the most illiterate and uneducated population in the world .
By the time you add the population of miseducated, degree clutching semi literate and poorly educated “mumullectuals” in the system, we may have a population of over 70% of Nigerians, who should actually be classified in the real sense of it as illiterates.
THE EDUCATION SECTOR, has been sorely neglected, abused and abandoned in Nigeria. That most important sector, has experienced gradual descent into the uttermost gutters of decay over the last 2 decades, culminating into the era of “affidavits”and “aeroplane driving” leaderships of the three arms and tiers of governments across the land .
The scripture says in Hoses 4:6… my people perish for lack of knowledge.
Knowledge comes by understanding. Understanding is derived from reading and studying in the place of learning (both virtual and real world). You can only read and understand, when you have the capacity to truly read and understand.
The Scriptures also noted in Timothy 2:15 …Study to shew thyself approved unto God ….
The scripture says in 3 John 1:2, Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
The word “prosper” in the scripture above means to excel, succeed and do well in the totality of your being—spirit, soul, and body. This is not just about money, riches and other material wealth.
Daniel 1:20 …And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them 10 times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. They excelled in the citadel of learning in Babylon despite the fact that they were slaves captured in war . Learning catapulted them into the top leadership position in Babylon . Knowledge is true power.
Karl Marx wrote in 1843 ,religion is the opium of the people . However, I have some slight modifications to that saying. Religion is actually the opium of the ignorant people. Massively ignorant folks, who cannot read or study deeply .
This is because in Acts 17:11. The scriptures talked about the Bareans . They were more fair minded than those of Thessalonica . They received the words of the apostles readily but searched the scripture daily to find out whether these things were so. They refused to be bamboozled or swallow anything said without interrogating it .
The Berians tested all things. They questioned all things and never accepted everything, hook, line and sinker . They read and studied everyday. Do study to know everyday.?
It is more difficult to deceive and scam a deeply knowledgeable society. It is difficult to scam a man who can research and study intelligently.
The top twenty prosperous nations in the world are those countries that have literacy levels that are above 95%
The ten most impoverished, poor and destitute nations of the world are those whose literacy levels are less than 50%
Fake news thrive mostly in societies that harbour the largest number of people, who cannot read or study. Literacy is not just possessing a degree or certificate .
In societies, where a majority of the people have common sense and deep knowledge, you cannot plant lies that you discovered $200 billion loots of 55 people . Loot stolen from an economy that did not earn that kind of money within same period.
Most Nigerians, do not read or study . The vast knowledge that is contained in our android phone is quite enormous.
I once joked with one of my mentees that if we had the GSM and the best throve of knowledge that is available today in the internet, when we were in the University , that I would have made a CGPA of 5.00/5.00
Knowledge is power. So, rather than push a hate bill death penalty , we should push for death penalty bill for those who loot our national resources, sex and money for grade teachers and election RIGGERS.
This class of people are the reasons why we have many educationally malnourished, and literacy challenged folks , who ignorantly swallow and peddle fake and hate news. There are some of them reading this now and will quickly jump in to amplify their ignorance and confirm my position.
I so submit.
Nnaemeka Onyeka Obiaraeri is the managing director of Taurus Capital, He resides in Lagos Nigeria, You can reach him by email HERE.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
