By Nnamdi Ojiego

Inadequate investment in the education sector has been described as the major cause of mass illiteracy and low standard of education as witnessed in the country today.

A public affairs analyst, Apostle Peter Odoemena disclosed this while delivering a lecture to mark the 11th anniversary of Dignity Consult of University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.

Speaking on the topic; “The Future of the Nigerian Youths (Students) in the Prevailing State of the nation”, Odoemena said mass illiteracy has become a very big problem to Nigerian youths.

According to him, most of the vices committed in the country were as a result of wide spread illiteracy among the people. “What we see most youths manifest is nothing but ignorance.

“Once somebody is not literate, he is not well informed, I mean, he will become a victim in the society. Anybody can use him for any reason at all because he doesn’t know the implications. But it is not so with one that is literate, so mass illiteracy is a very big problem to our youths today.”

The guest lecturer also stated that the disparity between institutions of learning and the needs of the society has contributed to the unemployment level in the country, as what the students studied in schools were not what the society needed.

“So many people are looking at white collar jobs but there are so many areas somebody can be gainfully employed. It is simply because our education curriculum is not tailored to meet the needs of the society. That’s why you see graduates passing out of higher institutions with certificates that cannot offer them any place in the society.”