By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The Federal Government has renewed its commitment to tackling youth and adult illiteracy while expanding access to lifelong learning opportunities as part of efforts to promote inclusive development and shared prosperity.
Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, stated this during a ministerial press briefing on Friday in Abuja at the 2026 International Literacy Day where she highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC) and improve its capacity to deliver literacy programmes across the country.
Professor Ahmad said the government recognises that the challenges of youth and adult literacy are too extensive to be addressed by a single intervention, stressing the need for coordinated action involving governments at all levels and other stakeholders.
She said the Federal Government was strengthening NMEC’s operational capacity, developing infrastructure and establishing additional centres, including facilities in Kano, while also working towards the development of a corporate headquarters. She noted that the expansion would create more opportunities for young people and adults who missed out on formal education to access learning and vocational pathways.
The Minister also called on state and local governments, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional and religious institutions, the private sector, community leaders and the media to join efforts with NMEC in taking literacy programmes to communities across the country. She expressed confidence that Nigeria remained on track towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in education, while emphasising the importance of data, teacher capacity development and inclusive access to educational opportunities.
She further stressed that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was committed to ensuring that government policies and programmes remained focused on measurable targets and outcomes, with the Ministry of Education and NMEC working towards clearly defined indicators.
The Minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure and facilities within the education sector, noting that investments in teacher training, vocational education and other learning opportunities would help equip Nigerians with the skills required to participate meaningfully in the economy.
Prof. Ahmad urged stakeholders to work collectively to ensure that no adult or young person is left behind, reaffirming the government’s commitment to promoting literacy, inclusive lifelong learning and sustainable national development.
The minister of state said the ultimate objective was to build a Nigeria where every adult and young person could read and write and have access to lifelong learning opportunities, describing literacy as essential to improving lives and achieving shared prosperity.
She called on Nigerians to renew their commitment to advancing literacy and ensuring that the benefits of education reach every community across the country.
