Abuja: The Federal Government has directed the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC) to strengthen its operations, collect accurate literacy data, and expand learning opportunities for adults and youths. The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, announced this directive at a news conference in Abuja on Friday in celebration of the 2026 International Literacy Day.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the 2026 International Literacy Day was marked with the theme ‘Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity.’ Prof. Ahmad highlighted that restoring NMEC’s autonomy is a crucial step towards enhancing planning, coordination, and the delivery of mass literacy, adult, and non-formal education. She emphasized the commission’s repositioning to effectively fulfill its mandate.
The minister revealed that the government is rehabilitating facilities at the National Centre for Adult Education in Kano, developing infrastructure nationwide, and working on establishing a permanent headquarters for NMEC. She added that activating learning centers across the country, with NMEC staff as facilitators, would address the challenge of providing accessible literacy opportunities for young people and adults who missed formal education.
Ahmad also mentioned that the government is equipping vocational training workshops and developing the Kano regional office into a hub for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). This initiative aims to provide learners with access to standardized vocational training while fostering the development of practical skills.
The government is also enhancing teacher capacity through digitized training linked to artificial intelligence, designed to be accessible via simple Android phones. This approach ensures that teachers in rural and urban communities are not disadvantaged by their location. Ahmad urged NMEC’s leadership to be more proactive and ensure that its activities are communicated regularly to the public, with clear targets and key deliverables visible to stakeholders and the media.
The minister called on state and local governments, development partners, civil society organizations, traditional and religious institutions, the private sector, community leaders, and the media to support literacy programs. Mr. Oladeji Adeyemi, Head of Education Sector at UNESCO, stated that literacy now encompasses the ability to read and write, shaping how people understand information, make decisions, know their rights, and participate in society.
Adeyemi noted UNESCO’s estimate that at least 739 million adults worldwide still lack basic literacy skills, while over 88 percent of the world’s adult population can now read and write. He affirmed UNESCO’s commitment to working with Nigeria and other member states to promote literacy, sustainable development, and shared prosperity.
Prof. Muhammed Shuni, Executive Secretary of NMEC, announced that the commission has begun collecting accurate literacy data, noting that the most recent data was obtained in 2010. This exercise is essential for providing a reliable basis for planning and assessing literacy interventions. He cited UNESCO Institute for Statistics data for 2024, indicating that 67.6 percent of Nigerians aged 25 to 64 are literate, while 81.4 percent of those aged 15 to 24 are literate. Shuni assured that these figures would be updated as the new data collection exercise progresses and stressed NMEC’s commitment to partnering with relevant stakeholders to ensure no Nigerian is left behind in the quest for a literate, skilled, and prosperous nation.