Rukaiya el-Rufai Reports 70% of Nigerian Kids Struggle with Reading

Rukaiya el-Rufai, the National Coordinator of Human Capital Development 2.0 and Special Adviser to the President of the National Economic Council and Climate Change, reported that approximately 70% of Nigerian children under 10 cannot read and understand a simple sentence. This alarming statistic underscores a significant learning crisis in Nigeria, which could hinder the development of a productive workforce.

El-Rufai emphasized that mere attendance in school does not guarantee the acquisition of essential literacy and numeracy skills. She cited the example of the Dangote Refinery, where Nigerian workers lacked the necessary skills for highly technical jobs due to deficiencies in basic education.

The Human Capital Development 2.0 programme aims to address these issues by focusing on health, education, skills, and livelihoods, with six priority indicators including under-five mortality and learning poverty. The programme seeks to improve Nigeria's Human Capital Index through measurable outcomes and is implemented via the National Economic Council.