FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has told Nigerians
to blame their leaders for the current level of poverty in the country.
The elder statesman said that the situation of poverty
in Nigeria is not different from what obtains across Africa saying that leaders
in Africa should be blamed for the increasing rate of poverty in the content.
Obasanjo who gave the remark at the launch of an
educational toy company, Ethan and Harriet in Lagos said that God has not
created anybody to be poor noting that if any nation is poor it is because of
its leaders.
He said that Nigeria has everything it needs to be a
great nation and as such God cannot be blamed for the poverty in Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria can overcome the problem of
poverty in the land if leaders tackles issues relating to education noting that
the end to poverty is the proper education of the people.
He explained that education is not all about how to
read and write saying that the knowledge
about the culture of ones country is also education.
He said one of the products of the company, which is a
puzzle on the map of Nigeria will have help Nigerian students to know more
about our culture, immediate environment and Nigeria’s heritages at large.
He said that parents can make use of it to know the history
about the Federation noting,"Few days ago I returned from a trip and when
people call me I do tell them the place I visited; you will be surprised some
would ask: where is that. I was also on phone with the Governor of Taraba State
and I shared the experience with him.
"He confirmed it saying that such is the problem
with some people. Even when you tell some people you are from Taraba they do
not know where such place it, let alone the capital."
He said further that the product will impact everybody;
young, old, men and women, what they need to know about their country, each
State and what they produce or what they are known for. It is a learning
material for Children, teenagers, adults and teachers as well.
“It is also good for non-Nigerians who might be
interested in knowing about Nigeria. It is a knowledge product. It is
disappointing that our children do not know about States, the capitals and what
they are noted for. We must understand that history is no longer thought in our
schools. History is important to know your values, locality or products; so
this product will make our children to know what matters about/to us and get
prepared for tomorrow", he said.
Founder of the company, Mrs. Bunmi Williams who is a
daughter of the former president said that the educational toy company was
established to help solve a national problem, which she has spotted.
She said that there is a disconnect between many
Africans and thier heritage and a lack of knowledge as it pertains to African
history being passed on to children.
Williams said her company hope to bridge the gap by
educating children through toys, which would in turn impart knowledge about African history in an
engaging and appealing manner.
While endorsing the product, former governor of Cross
River State, Mr. Donald Duke said that the product will go along in educating
even adults in the country.
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