THE National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education (NMAC) says there are 65 million Nigerians that can neither read nor write in any form with 10 million out of school children in the country.
Prof. Abba Haladu, Executive Secretary of the commission said this while addressing the House Committee on Basic Education chaired by Rep. Julius Ihovbere (APC-Edo) on Thursday.
Haladu emphasised the need for government at all levels to have the political will to fight illiteracy to enhance sustainable development in the country and also reducing the number of out of school children.
“This is a very big challenge and the informal education sector will play a big role to return sanity to the country.
“We need to do something in a big way as a country to eradicate illiteracy,” he said.
The executive secretary said there was the need for the Federal Government to support the launch of the mass literacy programme the commission was developing.
He said the programme would improve the level of literacy in the country.