As the World Marks International Literacy Day, Stakeholders are Calling for Better Education, Safer Schools and Quality Learning for Every Nigerian Child.
Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform | September 8, 2026.
ABUJA — Nigeria joins the rest of the world today in marking International Literacy Day 2026, with renewed attention on the country’s persistent education and literacy challenges.
This year’s celebration, which marks the 60th anniversary of International Literacy Day, is themed “Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity.” UNESCO says the theme highlights literacy as a foundation for inclusion, sustainable development and economic opportunity.
In Nigeria, the celebration comes amid concerns over learning outcomes, the large number of children outside school and the impact of insecurity on access to education.
Recent reports indicate that about three out of every four Nigerian children are unable to read and understand an age-appropriate text by age 10, underscoring the depth of the country’s learning crisis.
Insecurity has further complicated the situation, particularly in parts of Northern Nigeria where attacks, displacement and threats to schools continue to disrupt children’s education. More than 18 million Nigerian children are estimated to be out of school, according to UNICEF figures cited by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.
The Federal Government has, however, reaffirmed its commitment to reversing the trend. The Ministry of Education recently announced measures including the expansion of learning centres, digital inclusion, infrastructure development and stronger mass-literacy programmes through the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education.
As Nigeria observes the day, education stakeholders are calling for sustained investment in teachers, learning facilities, digital education and safer schools, stressing that literacy remains critical to economic participation, national development and the future of Nigerian children.
International Literacy Day is therefore more than a celebration; it is a reminder that Nigeria’s development ambitions depend heavily on ensuring that every child can learn, read and fully participate in society.
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