Over 60m Nigerians can’t read, write – Official

The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education has said that over 60 million Nigerians are said to be unable to either read or write in any language,

Speaking during a literacy roundtable discussion tagged “Literacy and Multilingualism: A Bedrock for Sustainable National Development” in Abuja, the executive secretary of the commission, Abba Haladu, said with the challenge of out-of-school children in the country, Nigeria is faced with high illiteracy rate amongst its adults and youth population.

According to Haladu, mass illiteracy has remained a major challenge in Nigeria’s developmental process with millions of children, youths and adults greatly affected.

The executive secretary of the commission said all Nigerians – men, women and youth – irrespective of gender, age, location or even life conditions must join hands to achieve a self-sustained development.

Also speaking at the event, the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the junior minister, Emeka Nwajiuba said Nigeria’s system of education needs a change.

According to him, “It is imperative to act quickly to change the unsatisfactory education indicators which show a large number of out-of-school children, a high illiteracy level among youth and adults, infrastructural deficit and decay, inadequate access at the basic education and low quality of learning among others.”