Written By: DONATUS NWOSU

Nigeria has its fair share of illiteracy rate. Thus, the need to train people who would be of service for the socio-economic and political growth of the country, perhaps, compelled the Federal Government to establish Agencies for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education in all the states of the Federation, including Abuja with emphasis on functional education, with particular objective of eradicating illiteracy in the country.

Hitherto, Anambra was reputed to be among the states in the federation with high degree of educated citizenry, producing eminent scholars and statesmen. However, the get-rich-quick syndrome reversed this noble trend. Consequently, our young girls abandoned their studies for early marriage, while our male children perceived education as waste of time and money. They switched over to various apprentices, trading in most markets. The syndrome spiraled with time, resulting in an army of frustrated illiterate youths and adults.

To redress this ugly trend, Governor Willie Obiano, assisted by Prof Kate Omenugha, Commissioner for Basic Education, took spirited measures to revive the Adult and Non-formal Education subsector. This is with a view to rehabilitating the illiterate and out-of-school syndrome among our youths.
The agency swung into action through various sensitization and mobilization tours, seminars and other activities aimed at drastically reducing the illiteracy rate, which was, by 1994, put at about sixty percent.

The measures include Governor Obiano’s massive support for advocacy, mobilization and sensitization of all the 179 communities to create further awareness on the dangers of illiteracy and to encourage enrolment in education. He also approved the hosting of a grand International Literacy Day in Anambra. Sir Willie ensured timely release of fund for regular payment of facilitators’ stipends, which has assisted to retain the best brains in National Certificates in Education and various Bachelors of Education graduates.

Governor Obiano invigorated and strengthened the monitoring and supervision apparatus as well as ensured equitable distribution of instructional materials to all the Adult and Non-formal Education Centers.

Impressed with the aggressive monitoring to every nook and cranny of the State, Governor Obiano donated a brand new bus to the agency for continuous mobilization to crush down Illiteracy in Anambra. In appreciation of the commitment of the governor in turning the education sector around, UNESCO, Abuja approved the training of 60 facilitators on innovative skills for Adults and youth learners in Awka, which greatly improved their performance in both internal and external examinations.

Similarly, the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education (NMEC), Abuja, in appreciation of the Governor, contributed in the capacity training of workers and facilitators on modern teaching methods. They went further to donate two motorcycles to the state.

Due to the positive impacts of the training programs, continuous internal advocacy activities, which led to increased enrolment at all the centres in the six education zones, the government established more training centres, thereby bringing the present total number of functional learning centres in the state to two hundred and eighty-six.

In addition, all the state facilitators are regularly paid their monthly stipends. They join the state public servants in receiving bank alerts as and when due. Akpokuedike went further to provide thousands of desks, modern rechargeable lanterns and chairs to all learning centers, making it possible for the Adult centres to complete their academic activities late in the evenings.

For ease of identification, Governor Obiano recently approved first installment of one hundred and thirty-three signposts at the six education zones with assurance that the signposts will get to all the learning centres. These overall support has led to the recent emergence of Anambra state by NMEC rating, as the best organized Agency for Mass Literacy, adult and Non-formal Education in the South East and further rated by UNESCO in their recent International report as one of the best three excellently managed Agencies for Mass Literacy in Nigeria.

Gratitude must go to the performing governor, Chief Obiano and his Basic Education Commissioner, Prof. Kate Omenugha, the industrious Permanent Secretary, Mr. Nwabueze Nwankwo among others. With continuous collaboration by all, the state is determined to stamp out illiteracy.

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