Stakeholders call for holistic approach to improve Nigeria’s literacy rate

…as National Library commemorates International Literacy Day

Stakeholders have called on Nigerian policymakers and implementers to put in place systems that will promote children’s ability to learn how to read and write in their Indigenous languages and enhance their literacy rate beyond 62 per cent.

The call was made in Lagos during an event organised by the National Library of Nigeria in collaboration with ZODML and Book Aid International to commemorate the 2024 International Literacy Day (ILD).

Speaking at the event, Ifeoma Esiri, the coordinator of ZODML said it is regrettable that many Nigerian children cannot neither read and write nor effectively communicate in their indigenous languages.

“It’s a pity that a lot of our children can only speak and communicate in English. Language is not only about the ability to read but also the ability to write in your local language.

“Nigeria must have systems in place to teach our children how to read and write in our local languages,” she said.

Esiri said that literacy is more than just education, it is a conscious effort to be a reader and understand the environment and heritage. She reiterated that Nigerian children must be able to read and write in their local languages because according to her, it brings about understanding among the various tribes.

“The more we understand each other, the more tolerant we’ll be, and the more tolerant we’re, the more peaceful we will live,” she noted.

The theme for 2024 ILD officially celebrated on September 8 is “Promoting multilingual education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace”.

According to UNESCO, there is a pressing need to harness the transformative potential of literacy for promoting mutual understanding, social cohesion, and peace.

Chinwe Anunobi, the chief executive officer at the National Library of Nigeria said Nigeria has 62 percent literacy rate according to the UNESCO 2018 report, and to get more Nigerians to become literate requires intentional actions.

 “Nigerian literacy is low, and this cannot be increased by mere word of mouth. Ireland, for instance, has a literacy rate of 95 per cent, because, it was a conscious effort by the people to encourage reading, and that is what Nigeria needs do to enhance literacy.

Anunobi assured Nigerians that the National Library will not rest on its efforts to promote reading and literacy, while she called on policymakers to take positive actions and provide policies that engender literacy such as building libraries and making books available to schools, among others.

“No country can develop without literate people, because literacy is a tool for peace and sustainable development,” she noted.

The only and best way to enhance literacy is by providing reading materials. What we have today is not enough to encourage reading,” she said.

Newton Jibunoh, the Nigerian explorer who crossed the Sahara Desert three times from London to Lagos, solo in 1966 and 2000, and 2008 with five others, said literacy goes beyond knowledge gotten in the four walls of the classroom.

Jibunoh enjoined the students to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) in vogue because according to him that is where the world is tilting to in the contemporary era.

“Literacy goes beyond formal education, you can acquire education in many ways. We must be intentional in acquiring knowledge just as the Americans explorers who went to space, the moon precisely.

“It was the Americans that brought about the internet we have today.  This kind of knowledge is not only for whites, Africans can be intentional about acquiring knowledge through exploration,” he said.

The 86-year-old explorer whose mission in embracing exploration was aimed at desertification, climate change, poverty, migration, and conflict, said his adventure from London to Lagos exposed him to numerous experiences.

Since 1967, the annual celebrations of International Literacy Day (ILD) have taken place on September 8, around the world to remind policy-makers, practitioners, and the public of the critical importance of literacy for creating a more literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society.

According to UNESCO, “Literacy is a fundamental human right for all. It opens the door to the enjoyment of other human rights, greater freedoms, and global citizenship.

“Literacy is a foundation for people to acquire broader knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and behaviours to foster a culture of lasting peace based on respect for equality and non-discrimination, the rule of law, solidarity, justice, diversity, and tolerance and to build harmonious relations with oneself, other people and the planet.”