Nigeria’s economy is over-reliant on oil revenues and skilled foreign workers. Huge wealth is divided among a tiny proportion of Africa’s second largest economy while poorly educated masses live in abject poverty. Illiteracy is shackling the potential of millions of hard-working and capable Nigerians as they struggle for social and economic survival.
As the world enters the computer age and employers seek literate employees, reading has become a critical life skill. Booker Prize-winning author, Kazuo Ishiguro, recently said: “Poor literacy undermines everything: self-worth, social cohesion, great natural talent.” The 100-Book Challenge was launched last month encouraging young people to read for pleasure; in the hope to improve literacy. In an attempt to tackle illiteracy in Nigeria, initiatives are revealing issues preventing a reading culture from being nurtured. In a modern world entirely dependent on literacy skills, what are the issues and what can be done to limit their damage?
Nigeria
Increasing the access to the written word is a crucial factor in tackling illiteracy especially in Nigeria where the majority of its 150 million people don’t have access to books. The 100-Book Challenge, “began as a result of visiting schools and talking to children and listening to their yearning,” said Coordinator, Dr Fatima Akilu, “Nigerian children want to read but there are no books that are easily accessible to them.”
The lack of access to books is only part of the problem. Parents, who are in a position to provide books and read to their children, simply don’t. In a society where nannies and drivers often act as primary carers, parents have taken a back seat. “Parental involvement in encouraging reading is key. Children whose families read for pleasure are more likely to take it for granted that reading is a worthwhile activity,” says National Literacy Trust, UK. Excuses such as ‘time constraints’ often mask laziness and a lack of effort. Fostering the love of reading early in development regardless of ethnic background, family income or level of parental education can dramatically impact a child’s development. Families need to realise their contribution is vital, both in terms of providing reading material, and reading with children after school.
For developing countries like Nigeria, female literacy is seen as key to raising living standards for the next generation. For example, a new-born child is far likelier to survive if its mother is well educated. However, in some northern states less than 5% of women can read and write. Literacy rates in the north-east are two-thirds lower than in Lagos. Promoting a love of reading and improving literacy skills is a key first step in beginning to address and help overcome other related factors that lock individuals into a cycle of disadvantage. Improvements in literacy, through initiatives such as the 100 Book Challenge, ‘Bring Back the Book’ campaign and RAW, could have a profound effect on communities in Nigeria.
A Global Challenge
Nigeria can learn from lessons still being learned elsewhere. A volunteer-based campaign has just been launched in the UK to tackle the literacy crisis gripping its capital with one in three children who do not own a book and one million working adults unable to read. A campaign led by the Evening Standard will make a dramatic impact on illiteracy in the British capital. Its success is not without the generous publicity, endorsement from public figures and most importantly, the British government. Illiteracy continues to constrain countries in both the developed and developing world, limiting the opportunities for people to escape poverty. Illiteracy is a global challenge.
Without a collective effort from the initiatives promoting literacy and most importantly, the Nigerian government, illiteracy will continue to blight Africa’s most populous nation, preventing progress. Increasing the access to books through establishing mobile libraries, training librarians, widespread volunteering programmes where people can mentor children in reading as well as investment in reading programmes in schools, are just some of the ways Nigeria can tackle illiteracy effectively.
However, for initiatives such as ‘Bring Back the Book’ and the 100 Book Challenge to make a widespread impact, they must engage the imagination of individuals across the literacy spectrum.
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