By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Federal Government has unveiled the Accelerated Basic Education (ABE) programme, aimed at mobilising 80 million under-served young non-literate Nigerians and adults still outside the reach of basic literacy.

The programme aims 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, unveiled the new programme while speaking at a one-day National Stakeholders Engagement Meeting on Youth and Adult Literacy in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ahmad, who was represented by her Special Assistant (Technical), Dr Claris Ujam, said the new programme would address out-of-school children challenges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its 2022 report stated that nearly 80 million Nigerians who constitute 31 per cent of Nigeria’s estimated 250 million population were non-literate.

Ahmad said that the ABE programme was designed to provide inclusive, adaptable, and high-impact literacy interventions that would meet learners wherever they were without compromising quality or relevance.

Justifying the reason behind the Accelerated Basic Education programme, the minister said that far too many of Nigeria’s over 250 million population still remained outside the reach of basic literacy.

“We all know that education forms the bedrock of every prosperous and inclusive society, yet far too many Nigerian youth and adults still remain outside the reach of basic literacy.

“This salient crisis suppresses individual potential and stalls national progress. Our mission is unequivocal to craft pathways of hope, dignity, and opportunity through the instrumentality of accelerated basic education.

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

“It is designed to provide inclusive, adaptable, and high-impact literacy innovations that meet learners where they are without compromising quality of relevance,” 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 un-reached.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the workshop and Director Literacy and Development at the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC), Dr John Edeh, said the meeting was a strategic moment for reflection, collaboration, and decisive action.

“We are here because we recognise a pressing challenge; millions of young Nigerians remain outside the formal education system.

“Whether due to poverty, early school leaving, displacement, or other socio-economic barriers, these youths deserve a second chance and NMEC is that gateway,” Edeh said.

He added that the sector was positioned to meet the diverse learning needs of out-of-school children and youths through flexible, community-based and learner-centred approaches.

He explained that the commission’s strategy was to meet learners where they are physically, emotionally, and socially and help them rise to their full potential.

Edeh listed the focus of the commission to include funding and resource mobilisation for mass literacy programmes, strengthening partnerships with state agencies, civil society, and development partners, and enhancing data collection.

Other areas of focus he said were monitoring for improved planning and accountability, promoting youth-friendly curricula and delivery models, as well as integrating digital tools and innovation into non-formal learning spaces.

He called on community leaders, donors, youth advocates, and programme implementers to collaborate with the commission to make education accessible to the marginalised. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker