(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC_1422-300x199.jpg) The Minister of State for Education, Barr. Nyesom Wike has reiterated Federal Government commitment to the eradication of illiteracy; saying that the present rate of illiteracy in the country is unacceptable. This is even as he said that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is doing a lot under the Transformation Agenda to provide access to education, and ensuring that we move away from among the countries with high illiteracy rate.
The Minister, who stated this while receiving a team of UNESCO officials led by the Regional Director, UNESCO, Dakar, Dr. Ann-Therese Ndong-Jatta, on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja, lamented that successive administration paid less attention to issues of mass literacy, making the present administration to inherit a lot. However, he said this administration has stepped up action plan to address the challenges of illiteracy.
(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC_1425.jpg) (http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC_1425.jpg)Barr. (Chief) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, in a group photograph with the UNESCO official during the courtesy visit. Wike disclosed that as part of efforts to galvanise support towards eradication of illiteracy in the country, the Federal Ministry of Education, will on 27th of this month, present the illiteracy rate of the country to the National Economic Council, which include the Governors, so that they will appreciate the enormity of the problem, and will in turn mobilize the Local Government to key in and pay more interest on the issue of mass literacy.
While speaking further, Barr. Wike said that President Goodluck Jonathan would soon host the former Prime Minister of Britain, Gordon Brown, with a view to seeking both financial and technical assistance from Global Education towards the campaign against illiteracy in the country.
Moreover, the Minister said the Ministry is partnering with the private sector, which led to the constitution of a committee being chaired by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to not only assist in providing education to the youths but skills that make them productive.
While appreciating the assistance of UNESCO in the effort to reduce illiteracy level in the country, the Minister said that the Ministry would continue to partner and collaborate with the UNESCO; adding that UNSCO should not relent in assisting the country in the effort geared towards illiteracy reduction.
Also, he said that all necessary support will be given to the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, NMEC, in the drive to reduce illiteracy rate in the country, saying that no nation can boast of development when illiteracy rate is high.
While speaking earlier, Dr. Ann-Therese Ndong-Jatta, said that their visit was to seek closer collaboration and partnership with government in the effort to eradicate illiteracy in the country, saying that Nigeria is one of the countries that has very high illiteracy level.
Dr.Ndong-Jatta said that the Federal Government must invest, as well as engaged the States to take keen interest in the illiteracy eradication initiative, noting that the high prevalence of illiteracy in the country is of great concern.
However, She commended the Ministry for the effort taken to promote Technical, Vocational Education and Training, TVET, saying that the country's framework is a model to other countries.
Also speaking, Officer in Charge, UNESCO Office, Abuja, Prof. Hassana Alidou expressed delight on the cordial working relationship between the Ministry and her office, noting that it has helped tremendously in increasing the number of train-the- trainers and facilitators in the mass literacy initiative.
She said that her office is in partnership with National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and National Teachers' Institute (NTI) in the training of facilitators but noted that except the facilitators are paid, there is little they would be able to achieve.
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Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria