FG pushes to tackle illiteracy, expands adult literacy nationwide
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Federal Government has announced a renewed drive to tackle illiteracy in Nigeria through expanded adult and non-formal education programmes, the activation of community learning centres and increased investment in infrastructure.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja while addressing journalists to mark the 2026 International Literacy Day, themed “Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity.”
Ahmad said the government was expanding infrastructure for adult and non-formal education nationwide, including plans to establish a new National Centre for Adult Education and provide a permanent headquarters for the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC).
She added that community learning centres were being activated, with commission staff expected to serve as instructors, particularly in communities with limited access to conventional education.
The minister said the initiative would create flexible learning opportunities for young people and adults who could not access or complete formal education.
She called for stronger participation from stakeholders outside government, stressing that the scale of youth and adult illiteracy required a collective response.
On Nigeria’s progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes quality and inclusive education, Ahmad expressed optimism, citing the full restoration of the commission’s academic autonomy as a major milestone after years of operating under constraints. She said the new approach addressed the challenge of sustaining participation while expanding access to literacy opportunities, and expressed confidence that the country was on track on SDG 4 more broadly, not just on adult literacy.
The minister also assured that rural communities would not be left behind in government programmes involving digital technology and artificial intelligence in teacher training, stressing that both rural and urban teachers would be treated equitably.
She charged the commission’s new leadership to be more proactive and inclusive in carrying every sector along in fulfilling its mandate to eradicate illiteracy.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed Executive Secretary of NMEC, Prof. Dahiru Muhammad Shuni, raised concerns over the absence of current data on Nigeria’s literacy situation, noting that available figures dated back to 2010.
He described the situation as unacceptable and said he had directed staff to gather accurate, up-to-date data, with field work already under way.
Also speaking, the Head of Education Sector at the UNESCO Abuja office, Mr Oladeji Adeyemi, said global literacy had improved considerably over the past decade, with more than 88 per cent of the world’s population now able to read and write, compared with about 65 per cent a decade ago, though millions remained affected by illiteracy.
He reaffirmed UNESCO’s commitment to partnering with Nigeria and other member states on literacy and education for sustainable development, citing Kano State as an example of UNESCO-supported programmes expanding mass education beyond basic literacy to include health and family-life education.