The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non
formal Education (NMEC) has canvassed the intervention of the Nigerian
Communications Commission (NCC) to spread mass literacy and non-formal adult
education in the country, reports ITRealms.
Executive Secretary of the NMEC, Prof Abba Abubakar Haladu
dropped this hint during a courtesy visit to the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC)
of NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta recently. They were received by Engr. Ubale
Maska, Executive Commissioner (Technical Services) at NCC on behalf of the EVC.
For Prof Haladu, “literacy education is the bedrock of
development because it assists in the improvement of the lives of the people
through the provision of relevant skills, competences and knowledge which
enable beneficiaries to take appropriate decision about their lives and
families”.
He said that if quality education is provided to the
citizenry, the impact will be obvious and society would benefit, it will fuel
modernity, knowledge based economy and development.
He listed dangers of illiteracy to include but not limited
to ill-health, population explosion, rural-urban drift, gang influence,
ignorance, poverty and the culture of silence over sensitive matters among
others.
He acknowledged however, that progress has been made in
literacy education in the country but there is more to be done.
Prof. Haladu gave figures of mass literacy with a disturbing
accuracy. “there are estimated over 60million adult and youth illiterates and
11.5million out of school children and this is a major challenge to the
country”.
In this connection, Prof. Haladu enlisted the collaboration
of NCC to correct the imbalance. Some of the areas the NCC could assist
include:
·
Strengthening of NMEC Headquarters (HQ) with the necessary ICT
facilities such as unlimited internet access, Desktop Computers, Inverter,
Solar panels and batteries for uninterrupted power supply for the ICT
facilities.
· Equip 13
community learning centres constructed by NMEC with Solar panels, inverter,
unlimited internet access, Desktop Computers, including tables and chairs. The community learning centres are located in
the following states: Edo, Rivers, Plateau, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, Taraba, Imo,
Anambra, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara and FCT.
· Equip Kano
Training and Documentation Centre and the Minna Resource Centre with Desktop
Computers, unlimited internet access, Solar Panels, inverters, batteries and
tables/chairs. This gesture will
facilitate the effective take off of the ICT units in the centres.
· Provision of
internet and ICT facilities for the smooth take off of NFE Education Management
Information units in the 36 states and FCT Agencies for Adult and Non-Formal
Education.
· Capacity
building of relevant staff on ICTs at the NMEC headquarters, zonal offices, states
agencies and at the community learning centres established by the Commission.
· Support the
airing of jingles and Literacy campaigns through Radio Programme in select
radio and television stations as means of sensitization, mobilization and advocacy
in favour of mass literacy and non-formal education.
· Any other
area of support not listed above that would assist NMEC in the task of
eradicating illiteracy and the enhancement of lifelong learning amongst
Nigerians.
In his response, Mr. Maska who stood in for Prof. Danbatta
said “it is heart-warming to note that your organisation and NCC share a common
education growth objective”.
The NCC, he explained, is involved in promoting a
knowledge-based economy through its intervention in both Secondary and Tertiary
Institutions across the country.
Maska listed NCC’s intervention to include the Advanced
Digital Awareness for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI) and Digital Awareness
Program (DAP) among others.
He said himself and the EVC come from the academic
background and so will be prone to the suggestions of the NMEC boss, “even
though it is a big basket of demands, we will pass the information to the EVC
and get back to you”, Maska added.
NCC’s Directors present at the reception for the NMEC
delegation included: Mr. Tony Ojobo (Public Affairs), Mrs. Iyabo Sholanke
(Research & Development), Mr. Ayuba Shuaibu (Universal Service Provision
Fund) and Mr. Kehinde Oladipo (Administration).
Uj. N. Dominic/GEE
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