Nigerian govt moves to reduce number of illiterate citizens put at 60m

The Ministry of Education says nearly 60 million Nigerians are illiterates, and that literacy centres would be established in 104 Federal Government Colleges (FGCs) aimed at reducing the high rate of illiteracy.

Mr Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education made this known on Thursday at the inauguration of a pilot Literacy Centre for the North Central Geo-Political Zone.

Echono regretted that the illiteracy rate among the youths and adults is high, saying that the literacy level at the lower cadre of the colleges is also alarming.

He added that the literacy centres would be made at the low cadre of the staff of the institutions, stressing that the Federal Government designed the literacy programme to cater for them and others in the host communities.

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This, according to him, was to fit into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially SDG number four which highlights inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of long learning opportunities.

He explained that the programme would equip its beneficiaries with literacy and numeracy skills to be able to handle challenges of life.

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