Educationist Tasks LGs On Mass Literacy

In a bid to eradicate mass
illiteracy in Rivers State, an educationist, Mr Paul Paschal Nwanikpo, has advocated that local government areas should contribute to the funding of mass literacy programmes as applicable in other states of the country.
Nwanikpo, who is the Executive Director of the Rivers State Agency for Adult and Non-formal Education, said the objective could be achieved through a law by the Rivers State House of Assembly, making it mandatory for locak government areas to fund mass literacy programme on a certain percentage.
The Director, who spoke with The Tide on the prospect of mass literacy development in Rivers State, said local governments were not contributing to the development of education, as the Rivers State government had relieved them the burden of payment of teachers’ salaries which had been a major excuse for non-performance.
Commenting on Port Harcourt as World Book Capital, the former programme manager, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assisted Mass Literacy Programme in Rivers State, said the development would enhance mass literacy in Rivers State as well as promote investment opportunities in the development of intellectual property.
Nwanikpo, who was also the secretary UNDP assisted social development programme in Rivers State commended the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi for the feat.
He called on youths in the state to take advantage of the project to enhance their reading habit and overall educational development.
He pointed out that the emergence of Port Harcourt as the World Book Capital had justified Governor Amaechi’s giant strides in the education sector, and placed Rivers State at the world centre stage of educational development.

Taneh Beemene