The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring greater mass literacy and closing the digital divide as Nigeria connected with the rest of the world to celebrate the 2025 International Literacy Day, themed “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era.”
Discussing the role, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmed, referred to literacy as a pillar of national advancement.
According to her, the government is adopting a data-driven strategy towards enrolling out-of-school children and adults in inclusive literacy programs countrywide.
In his speech, the Acting Executive Secretary of the National Mass Education Commission (NMEC), Dr. John Edeh Onimisi, announced that online registration has been over expectations as more than 27,000 learners have been tallied so far.
In his words, the Commission is leveraging radio, television, and mobile phone applications to expand access to literacy activities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Also speaking was UNESCO’s representative, Oladeji Adeyemi, who underscored that literacy in the 21st century is more than reading and writing, highlighting the importance of digital literacy and critical thinking.
He reasserted UNESCO’s collaboration with Nigeria towards inclusive education and sustainable development.
The International Literacy Day, celebrated annually on September 8, is a moment to put the importance of literacy as a dignity right and human right and advance the literacy agenda towards a more educated and digitally empowered world.
