Govt targets 80m non-literate youths, adults for basic education

The Federal Government has begun the mobilisation of 80 million young and adult non-literate Nigerians outside the reach of basic literacy.

The government is undertaking the mobilisation through a programme called Accelerated Basic Education (ABE), designed to meet non-literate youths and adults wherever they are in the six geopolitical zones of the country without compromising quality or relevance.

The Minister of State for Education,  Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, announced this yesterday at a one-day national stakeholders’ engagement meeting on Youth and Adult Literacy through Accelerated Basic Education (ABE) in Abuja.

Represented by her Special Assistant Technical, Dr. Claris Ujam, the minister said the programme was designed to provide inclusive, adaptable, and high-impact literacy interventions that would meet learners in any part of the country.

She expressed concern about the 2022 National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report that nearly 80 million Nigerians or 31 per cent of Nigeria’s estimated 250 million population, is non-literate.

Ahmad said the programme was designed “to aggressively address the situation”.

Justifying the need for the programme, the minister noted that too many Nigerians remained outside the reach of basic literacy.

Addressing participants at the meeting, she said: “Your presence here today is a resounding affirmation of our collective resolve to reshape Nigeria’s educational future, especially for our underserved youth and adult populations. As you are well aware, education forms the bedrock of every prosperous and inclusive society. Yet, far too many of Nigeria’s millions – youths and adults — still remain outside the reach of basic literacy. This silent crisis suppresses individual potential and stalls national progress.”

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Ahmad said the mission of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is to craft pathways of hope, dignity, and opportunity through an instrument that rejects age, geography, and circumstances as barriers to learning.

“The ABE programme is more than a solution; it is a movement, a movement that rejects age, geography, and circumstance as barriers to learning.

“We are here to mobilise. Our goal is bold: to scale youth and adult enrolment in literacy programmes across every state, every community, and every ward. Achieving this requires your expertise, your reach, and your enduring commitment,” she said.

The minister urged non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other partners to expand community-driven initiatives, pioneer innovative delivery models, and help the government reach the unreached.

“As a ministry, we reaffirm our promise to enable this work with sound policies, sustained financing, and strict accountability mechanisms,” Ahmad added.