By Omowumi Samuel
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to maintain the status of literacy and adult learning, and also strive to solicit efficient dedication to achieving mass literacy delivery.
The Honourable Minister of State for Education, Mr Goodluck Opiah, disclosed this at a news briefing held in Abuja to mark this year’s International Literacy Day.
Revealing the theme, ”Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces: Exploring opportunities and possibilities”, the minister hinted that it is an avenue to rethink the fundamental importance of literary learning spaces to build resilience, and ensure easy access of education for all.
According to Mr. Opiah, the theme is apt as it exhaustively helps to increase awareness about the Literacy Learning spaces, which has the needs of youth and adults in focus.
Mr. Opiah also revealed that the inclusion of Youths and Adults Literacy as a pillar in the ministry’s strategic plan is a clear indication of government’s commitment to advance literacy.
Going further, the Minister stated that the helm of Education in Nigeria, will continue to leverage on the existing progress and transformation in the development of literacy learning spaces, while setting the stage for lifelong learning of the Nigerian youth and adults.
Also, successes have been recorded overtime, in all literacy levels, among which are: guaranteed additional access to adult and non-formal education programmes in 377 centres across the 36 states and within FCT.
Mr Goodluck Opia also highlighted on government’s commitment to continually adopt existing and emerging innovations in the learning spaces.
However, the Director General of UNESCO, Mrs Audrey Azoulay, stated in an address delivered by the Regional Director, UNESCO, Mr Albert Mendi, that ILD is an opportunity to assess progress and spur momentum towards celebrating literacy as an essential human right, that plays a key role in our societies.
Similarly, in 1979, only 68% of the world population know how to read and write, as at 2020, this figure had risen to 86.7%. Despite this milestone success, about 771 million youth and adults around the world still do not possess basic literacy skills, 60% of whom are girls and women.
Worthy to note is that UNESCO institute for lifelong learning has regarded learning cities as the ”pillar of Sustainable Development”, in a world marked by high level of infrastructural, economic and technological advancement.
