The evidence is irrefutable that Nigeria's immense endowments have not benefited the vast majority of its people - more than 70 % of the
population is poor; over 30 % are unemployed; more than 40 % of the
youths have no jobs; 30 % of our people remain
illiterate; life expectancy is just 52 years; and the country exhibits poor human development with HDI of just 0.514.
The UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy — supported by the Government of the People's Republic of China and dedicated to literacy work benefitting rural
populations and out - of - school
youth, particularly girls and women — is awarded to laureates in South Africa, India, and Senegal: The South African Department of Basic Education for its Kha Ri Gude Mass Literacy Campaign; the Jan Shikshan Sansthan organization in Kerala, India, for its programme, Vocational Skill Development for Sustainable Development, and the Directorate of Literacy and National Languages in Senegal for its National Education Programme for Illiterate Youth and Adults through
youth, particularly girls and women — is awarded to laureates in South Africa, India, and Senegal: The South African Department of Basic Education for its Kha Ri Gude Mass Literacy Campaign; the Jan Shikshan Sansthan organization in Kerala, India, for its programme, Vocational Skill Development for Sustainable Development, and the Directorate of Literacy and National Languages in Senegal for its National Education Programme for
Illiterate Youth and Adults through
Youth and Adults through ICTs.