532 adult literacy centres, teachers to be doubled – Ambode

IN a bid to kick illiteracy out of Lagos State and make the State work for all, the Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has said that the adult literacy centres in the state will be doubled.

He made this known through his Deputy, Idiat Adebule at the global launch of the Eko nke koo, Lagos is Learning programme of the Lagos State Government Ministry of Education, office of the Special Adviser on Education Agency of Mass Education.

Pupils of Supreme House Montessori School, Lekki during its 8th Cultural Day presentation tagged: ‘Strenght In Our Unity’ held at the school premises in Lagos.
“His Excellency has directed that the 532 centres be increased to 1,000.

We are not stopping there we are also catering for special groups like the mechanics. We are going to the mechanic village to establish centres where they can learn and they don’t need to go to the other centres.

We want to bring it close to them so they can maximally enjoy the benefit inherent in having this type of opportunity. In addition to the increasing the centres, we are increasing the number of facilitators and this, for us, is a way of ensuring these centres are not just created but that learning is actually taking place there.

“Illiteracy makes people vulnerable to criminal activities. Literacy is important to follow instructions in public and basic society.

Adult literacy helps people contribute to society discussions and improve basic health of one and all. That is why we are passionate about this programme.” Adebule said.

Speaking the essence of programme, Special Adviser, Mr. Obafela Bank- Olemoh said; “Our statement is very clear as a State, we are launching Eko nke koo, Lagos is Learning, today and it is focused on ensuring we kick illiteracy out of Lagos. One of the things the governor told us clearly is that Lagos must work for all.

For that to happen we have to work on adults that need to go to school, that is why we have this programme. Beyond that we are going to partner with religious organisations; you are going to see centres in our churches and mosques, also there will be centres in NURTW garages and mechanic villages.

This is because this is where we believe we can meet adults to curb illiteracy. “The key thing for anybody is that once you can read and write then it opens a new vista for you. The statistics worries us in Lagos state.”

UNESCO says we have about 54 million illiterates in Nigeria; South Africa has a population of less than 54 million, which means we have a nation of illiterates.
In Lagos State we have over 3 million illiterates, so we are focused on eradicating that number within the next three years. In that light we are going to be giving out a lot of materials for free.

“It is a nine months programme that is equivalent to a primary three certificate. Hence the person can read and write when done with the programme. If the person decides to continue, we have our adult centres that can take them.
But what we are focusing on is that all Lagosian must be able to read and write. We are going to be deliberate and painstaking, but we are committed to making sure it works.”