Over 62million Nigerians Are IIIiterates - UNESCO

                           

United Nations  Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has disclosed that over 62 million Nigerians are illiterate, adding that  is inimical  to the nation’s growth.
UNESCO also said it would take 58 years to eradicate illiteracy,  even with innovations  like Information and Communications Technology and other learning mechanisms.
Speaking at a global workshop on Teaching and Learning Methods organised by Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ado Ekiti yesterday, National Progamme Officer, UNESCO Regional office in Abuja, Dr. Muhammad Alkali, canvassed  full embrace of ICT, not only to increase quality of education, but also, for more Nigerians to be educated.

He said the mobile system of  education  helps to make learning very flexible, particularly in a situation where resources are scarce, thereby fettering  citizens’ access  to education. “UNESCO is targeting drop-outs which  are  predominant in JSS2 going by available research in Nigeria. We are seriously concerned and worried with increasing illiteracy in Africa. We are getting a place in the neighbourhood where they can be taught.
“Unless we are deceiving ourselves, ICT remains the best way to provide education now going by the experiences in Pakistan. Nigeria needs 58 years to banish illiteracy and this is going to be hectic,” he said.
Founder of the university, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), said the 21st century presents challenges and opportunities  for educational institutions to transform teaching and learning, saying ABUAD has identified ICT as a veritable platform to improve standard and this he said has been effective.

“The emergence of social networks like facebook, twitter and others have assumed a global dimension , offering opportunities to disseminate knowledge to students online.

“This university has developed vast array of IT infrastructures around the campus to facilitate teaching, learning and research. This is aimed at nurturing students with novel technologies critical to sustaining their academic and professional careers.”

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Michael Ajisafe, disclosed that the university has invested so much in ICT , which had helped in making students have access to research in  many
universities  across the globe, saying stakeholders in education have acknowledged  their efforts in this regard. The VC added that reference has also been made to ABUAD as model and
leading light for quality education , given the extensive infrastructure available on campus to facilitate teaching, research and community service.

SUN