As Nigeria Marks World Literacy Day!

On September 8, Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Literacy Day. The day, which is celebrated to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society was first celebrated in 1967.
Observed by all United Nations (UN) member states, it was declared by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on October 26, 1966 at the 14th Session of UNESCO’s General Conference.
According to the world body, the theme for the celebration this year is “Literacy for a human-centred recovery: Narrowing the digital divide”, in keeping with the unparalleled level of disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to teaching and learning.
UNESCO notes that about 773 million people in need of access to literacy learning opportunities were adversely affected as many initial response plans to the pandemic did not include them with schools’ closure disrupting the education of 62.3 per cent of the world’s student population of 1.09 billion while “The rapid shift to distance learning also highlighted the persistent digital divide in terms of connectivity, infrastructure, and the ability to engage with technology, as well as disparities in other services such as access to electricity, which has limited learning options.
“The pandemic, however, was a reminder of the critical importance of literacy. Beyond its intrinsic importance as part of the right to education, literacy empowers individuals and improves their lives by expanding their capabilities to choose a kind of life they can value. It is also a driver of sustainable development. Literacy is an integral part of education and lifelong learning premised on humanism as defined by the Sustainable Development Goal 4. Literacy, therefore, is central to a human-centred recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.”
The 2021 celebration also aims at exploring “what makes technology-enabled literacy learning inclusive and meaningful to leave no one behind,” while providing the opportunity to reconceptualise future literacy and learning, within and beyond the context of the pandemic.
Clearly, Sustainable Development Goal 4 has as one of its targets ensuring all young people achieve literacy and numeracy and that adults, who lack these skills are given the opportunity to acquire them, just as the UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda, adopted by world leaders in September 20‘5, promotes universal access to quality education and learning.
Available data indicates that Nigeria which had a literacy rate of 70.20% in 2006 declined to 62.02% in 2018 while other African countries like Gabon had 90%, Zambia 86.75%, Kenya 81.54%, Congo Republic 82%, Ghana 79.04%, Cameroon 85.07% and Morocco 73.75% respectively. This is as other countries in the world like Cuba, Georgia, Estonia, Cyprus, Croatia, Balarus and China, amongst others had 100% literacy rate.
There is no indication that the percentage of the population age 15 and above who can read and write, with understanding, has since improved owing to the prevailing myriad of challenges experienced in the country, including the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Tide thinks that the 2021 International Literacy Day celebration should be an occasion for sober-reflection, stock taking and a time for harnessing necessary resources and energies towards strengthening the educational system in the country by the Federal Government, sub-national administrations and well-meaning corporate bodies and individuals.
The fact cannot be overstated that the high rate of illiteracy partly accounts for the low level of socioeconomic development of Nigeria as the growth of any nation depends on the quantity and quality of its individual citizens.
While we acknowledge that government at various levels have not been negligent on the issue of improving the literacy level in the country, the fact remains that there are yawning gaps to bridge if our nation will not remain imperiled by the obvious consequences of our huge illiterate population that unscrupulous elements have taken advantage of to put our fatherland in mortal danger.
There is no doubt that funding for the educational sector in the country needs to significantly improve. Admittedly, government cannot do it alone, but it must provide the greatest motivation and drive. An adequately funded free and compulsory educational policy is the way to go because an investment in both formal basic education, youth and adult literacy and non-formal education that ensures that children, youth and adult have access to adequate educational opportunities will help them develop their literacy skills and make Nigeria a safer and more prosperous nation.
There is no greater evil that has been unleashed upon our country than the armed attacks on our educational institutions and the seemingly intractable wholesale kidnap of school children from educational sanctuaries.
Nothing will be more befitting to present to Nigerians than the assurance of a safe, secure and conducive teaching and learning environment on this auspicious occasion. It is the only way to demonstrate the existence of a government that is working for an assured brighter future for our country and justify Nigeria’s celebration of the World Literacy Day.