The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC), Prof. Musa Garba Maitafsir, says over 60 million adults in Nigeria lack basic literacy and numeracy skills.
Speaking in Kano on Tuesday at the opening of the 2025 Nigeria National Council for Adult Education (NNCAE) Annual Conference, Maitafsir called for improved funding and stronger policy attention to adult education.
“This is not just a statistic — it’s a call to action,” he said. “Adult education is no longer an afterthought or a remedial option; it is a strategic lifeline that empowers individuals.”
The five-day event, holding at Bayero University, Kano, has the theme “The Future of Adult Learning in Nigeria: Leveraging the 5th Industrial Revolution for Inclusive, Equitable, and Sustainable Development.”
Maitafsir said adult learning remains vital across the 774 local government areas, especially in rural and hard-to-reach communities. He stressed that education “opens doors to dignity, economic inclusion, and lifelong learning,” but lamented that the sector still suffers from poor recognition and underfunding.
He urged stakeholders to align adult education with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education.
“Fundamental skills like reading, writing and mathematics are keys to unlocking personal empowerment and active citizenship,” he said.
Maitafsir commended NNCAE members for their “unwavering advocacy and innovation,” describing them as “the backbone of adult education in Nigeria.”
“Together, we can forge a future where no adult is left behind, where education truly becomes a lifelong journey accessible to all,” he added.
