Experts hinge skills’ learning on improved literacy rate

• Nigeria’s illiterates rise to 60 million
There might not be appreciable level of skills’ learning until Nigeria improves the level of literacy in the country, the National President of Non-Governmental Association for Literacy Support Services (NOGALSS), Noah Emmanuel, has said.

Speaking at the inauguration of NOGALSS board of Trustees, investiture of National Patrons/Matrons in Abuja, Noah noted that most of the social ills afflicting Nigeria have their roots in illiteracy and inability of most Nigerians to understand the socioeconomic dynamisms of the country.

His words: “We need to get the political will of government at all levels to see the need to increase our literacy rate as a national emergency.

“Many of our national problems hinge on the lack of understanding of the socioeconomic relations that should lead us to sustainable development and peaceful coexistence. When illiteracy is a national emergency, many more constituency projects will address illiteracy and skills development and people will be more empowered to live useful lives where their potentials will be realized and poverty as well as restiveness reduced.”

Noah stated that the inauguration of the board of trustees, patrons and matrons is expected to push the organisation to the next level of performance saying, “today we have moved to the next level in the building of a formidable association that is to deliver Nigeria from the bane of illiteracy by complementing efforts of governments al all levels.

“NOGALSS has come a long way, but we are not there yet. We will be there when we say that the literacy rate in Nigeria is 99.99 per cent. With these men and women of honour, we are sure that the task is going to be much easier.”He also disclosed that the organisation would establish a fame of honour to recognise groups and individuals that are contributing immensely to the development of literacy in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the number of illiterates in Nigeria has risen to 60 million, according to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.While welcoming the contributions of NOGALSS to tackling illiteracy level in the country, the Minister called for support from all stakeholders in addressing the ugly trend.

He said since the attainment of independence in 1960, successive Nigerian governments in their efforts to put the nation on the path of sustainable development recognised the role of education as an instrument to enhance social transformation.

Adamu added that youth and adult illiteracy are unacceptable social deformation, produced by economic, social and cultural inequality.He said: “Our Country is counted as a developing nation because of slow economic growth and huge rate of adult and youth illiteracy.

“You will agree with me that youth and adult illiteracy is one of the major social issues hindering the path of development of the country and as such adult education awareness is necessary as education is the only tool which can enlighten every part of the country.

“Many steps have been taken by the Nigerian government to promote adult and non-formal education, one of such is the roadmap for radical change in the education sector 2016-2019: 2020-2022 The Ministerial Strategic Plan by the Federal Ministry of Education.”

The Minister explained that roadmap has so far guided the policies and programmes of President Buhari’s administration in tackling challenges facing education in general and adult and non-formal education in particular.

The NOGALS National Vice President, Yakubu Saraki, noted that the association is the umbrella body of all the non-governmental and private organizations that are in the mass literacy and non-formal education in Nigeria.