Nigeria’s Literacy Crisis Requires Concrete Action – NAS
The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, NAS/PC, has called on the Federal Government to take urgent and concrete steps to tackle Nigeria’s literacy crisis. In a statement marking the 2026 International Literacy Day, NAS Cap’n, Dr Charles Meribole, said the estimated 18.3 million out-of-school children and 64 million illiterate adults are unacceptable for a country seeking to build a thriving economy. Speaking on the theme, “Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity,” Meribole said every Nigerian has a right to acquire the foundational skills needed to learn, work, innovate and live with dignity. He described literacy as a fundamental human right and a foundation for human development and inclusive prosperity, arguing that a literate population is better positioned to build the economy, protect the environment, reject ignorance, fight poverty and demand good governance. He also warned that mass illiteracy leaves people economically disadvantaged and more vulnerable to manipulation and violence, linking the crisis to rising insecurity, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
Meribole acknowledged the Federal Government’s efforts through the HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All, HOPE-EDU, programme introduced by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, but stressed that implementation must go beyond government pronouncements and make foundational literacy a national emergency. NAS/PC called for improved security around schools, especially in Northern Nigeria, to prevent mass abductions and school closures; reforms to the National Commission on Mass Literacy, Adult Education and Non-Formal Education, with greater reach into rural communities; and closer integration of education policies with measures addressing poverty, hunger, insecurity, displacement, social protection and gender inequality. Meribole said Nigeria cannot credibly pursue a productive, innovative and globally competitive economy while millions cannot read or write, stressing that the country’s ambition of achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030 requires a highly literate population. He urged the government to move from budgetary allocations and declarations to measurable outcomes, insisting that Nigeria’s literacy crisis is a national challenge that can and must be overcome.
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