Former president Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday in Cotonou urged African nations to provide quality education to ensure peace and tolerance in the continent, stressing that, the low level of education in Northeast Nigeria was responsible for insurgency.

Obasanjo made the call at the ongoing International Symposium for the launching of African Initiative for education, peace and development.

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.

Also speaking a former president of Benin Republic, Soglo Neciphore, said culture was the source of human identity and urged African nations to to use culture as tool for development.

“We shall raise the level of awareness on education and culture for our people to understand each other; our governments should not be identified by any religion and at the same time not put any to disadvantage.”

He said Japan China, and many other developed nations were identified by their culture and had used it effectively for their development.
http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2015/05/27/boko-haram-penetrated-northeast-due-to-illiteracy-obasanjo/

Sorry o, I clicked before realising it was "monkey man" Obasanjo talking.

No be poverty and misrule again. God dey watch us in LED

I will believe him somehow

it is easy to twist the word of God to an Illiterate because he/she does not have much capability to enquire more about what you might have told the person, education would have help to broaden their knowledge, so ɨ think he is right in one way but it doesn't depend on that only, poverty is also a big factor

There is a level of illiteracy in the Northwest and North central too. Just like Maitasine Boko Haram is a Kanuri thing. And yea, Education may likely reduced the effects.

OBJ and other past leaders especially the ones of Northern Extraction are responsible for the impoverishment of the Northern Citizens of Nigeria. They use Religion and Illiteracy to enrich themselves and impoverish the region economically, socially and academically. GMB is evidence of this culture

Idrismusty97:
There is a level of illiteracy in the Northwest too. Just like Maitasine Boko Haram is a Kanuri thing. And yea, Education may likely reduced the effects.

But he knew this truth;GEJ established Almajari schools,yet he was hated with all passion

-Well, BABA was right but it's not only illiteracy
here is a list
1.illiteracy
2.Born to rule mentality
3.Virgin finders
4.Failure of security operatives to curb the sect
5.GEJ underrated d sect!
but not to worry, 2days count down and everything will fall into place by God's grace!

make them no go school. Make dem dey dey trek from jerusalem to jericho.
Make them no fight for their right to education. Make dem dey riot becos of mohammed caricature wey no concern them.
mumu people.
Na only to vote na im they sabi

Obasanjo should stop giving excuses.
The Corruption of Northern leaders and lack of leadership is responsible.
The northern conservative elites are the most heartless set of people in Nigeria.
Their poverty is the heartless version of the poverty you find all over Nigeria.
The states are responsible for primary and secondary education. The bulk of the SW spending goes towards education and health spending and remains the only place where you find such with many regions piggybacking on the SW social services It is therefore laughable when some people are celebrating the fact that salaries have been fully paid.
It simply tells me that they do not responsibilities in terms of education and health.

I knw most pple will be pointing to the FG for failing to provide schools to that region, but we tend to forget that the LG and state govt also have a lot to play...

Omooba77:

But he knew this truth;GEJ established Almajari schools,yet he was hated with all passion

Imagine if after Buhari's rule, he tells the SE he worked for them by establishing rehabilitation centres for the "born put for market" baby factory children of Igboland. What would be your reaction?

Mogidi:
Sorry o, I clicked before realising it was "monkey man" Obasanjo talking.

Is your father better than that monkey man? Idiot insulting your grate grandfather

ydass:


Is your father better than that monkey man? Idiot insulting your grate grandfather

Why you dey vex?

Are you related to the "monkey man"?

Idrismusty97:
Imagine if after Buhari's rule, he tells the SE he worked for them by establishing rehabilitation centres for the "born put for market" baby factory children of Igboland. What would be your reaction?

Mister don't even go there! Comparing the 2 regions in terms of having basic needs is very insulting to the SE.

Those guys u see in the markets, 90% of them can read and write simple sentences in english language.

But we all knw d percentage of people in the NE and NW who can't understand "come here"

hurricaneChris:


Mister don't even go there! Comparing the 2 regions in terms of having basic needs is very insulting to the SE.

Those guys u see in the markets, 90% of them can read and write simple sentences in english language.

But we all knw d percentage of people in the NE and NW who can't understand "come here"

Read what i wrote again and answer the question. BTW Shekau and literary all the terrorists understand simple "come here" , You would be surprise how educated some of the terrorists are. Like i said, Education may likely reduce the effects but this goes behold education or understanding "come here". Back to the SE question, What would be your reaction?

hurricaneChris:


Mister don't even go there! Comparing the 2 regions in terms of having basic needs is very insulting to the SE.

Those guys u see in the markets, 90% of them can read and write simple sentences in english language.

But we all knw d percentage of people in the NE and NW who can't understand "come here"

Idi0t, most of them have Islamic education.