Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Acting Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult Non-Formal Education, Dr. John Onimisi Edeh, has said that the security, stability and economic prosperity of Nigeria depend on our ability to provide functional education for all citizens.
He said this at the presentation of vocational skills materials/equipment to some beneficiaries of the programme in the South-South zone using the Literacy Through Economic Empowerment Strategy (LEES), an initiative of the commission.
Dr. Edeh said that this is in tandem with the ideals and goals of the present administration in its desire to build a better, prosperous and equitable Nigeria.
Dr. Edeh, represented by the Director Vocational and Continuous Education Department, Jane Ejieji, said in an attempt towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG) and its corresponding targets, the Commission is using
“Literacy through Economic Empowerment Strategy (LEES)”, aimed at making adult and non-formal education to be more attractive and erase the ill-conceived notion that adult and non-formal education is a charade and effort in futility.
Edeh added that the initiative is aimed at providing hands-on training that will economically empower adults and youths alike by equipping them with functional literacy and vocational skills.
He pointed out that the economic empowerment here refers to entrepreneurship and management training that enables a targeted group to pursue income-generating activities, stressing that such activities ultimately lead to important supplementary income.
The acting secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult Non-Formal Education, hinted that the focus of the programme is generally premised on literacy and economic empowerment of learners, as the initiative is designed to impact positively on learners employability vis-Ã -vis; promoting independence and increasing their chances of self-sustenance after acquiring literacy.
He lamented that despite efforts being made over the years, illiteracy still remain a problem as it is further worsen by other factors.
“Times have changed, and Nigeria’s literacy challenge has taken a new dimension. Illiteracy does not seem to be receding, in spite of efforts at various levels over the years.
“The regrettable illiteracy condition is further compounded by the large number of out-of-school children, unemployed youths and adults, issues of gender inequality, regional and socio-economic impediments, poor access to education and the increasing number of schooling-without-learning children, adolescents and youth in the country.
“As our country strives to resolve its developmental challenges and compete in today’s rapidly changing society, every citizen needs to possess vast knowledge, skills and competences, including literacy, numeracy and digital competency to a proficiency level, in order to learn, adapt and participate in social, economic, cultural and civic life”, Edeh said.
On the part of the state agency’s director, Mrs. Ibrahim Ivory, she urged the beneficiaries to leverage on the golden opportunity availed them to improve on their standard of living as such opportunity hardly comes by.
Beneficiaries of the programme were trained on shoe and bag making, catering, barbing, makeup artistry, fashion and hairdressing.
The beneficiaries were also given equipment to start up their own shops.