The Federal Government has restored the autonomy of the National Mass Education Commission, NMEC, in a renewed push to tackle adult and youth illiteracy and expand access to non formal education across Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad who disclosed this in Abuja at a ministerial briefing to mark the 2026 International Literacy Day said the development would strengthen the commission’s capacity to plan, coordinate and deliver mass literacy, adult and non formal education programmes across the country.
She said the government is also working to strengthen the commission’s operational capacity and reposition it as the lead federal institution for mass literacy and lifelong learning.
The minister called for greater collaboration among state and local governments, development partners and other stakeholders to take the literacy campaign to underserved communities across the country.
Speaking earlier, UNESCO representative Oladeji Adeyemi said literacy goes beyond reading and writing, stressing that it increasingly shapes how people understand information, make decisions, know their rights and participate meaningfully in society.
Track up..also track the DG
The 2026 International Literacy Day is being commemorated under the theme: “Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity.”
End
