The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC), Prof. Musa Garba Maitafsir, has reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to intensifying efforts to combat illiteracy across Nigeria.
Prof. Maitafsir made this known at the weekend when he led a high-powered delegation of the commission on a visit to the Aco community in Lugbe, a sprawling suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The development was contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations of the commission, Barr. Issa Marughu, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday.
According to Maitafsir, the visit forms part of NMEC’s practical strategies aimed at addressing illiteracy nationwide and strengthening the achievement of the commission’s core mandate.
He described the visit as an important eye-opener that underscores the urgent need for the commission to intervene in the community and similar areas across the country through targeted literacy programmes.
The NMEC boss noted that interactions with residents of the Aco community and neighbouring settlements revealed that many of them lack formal education.
He, however, said the residents demonstrated a strong desire to learn, adding that the commission is prepared to support them.
“This is where NMEC comes in. The commission will not only provide the necessary learning materials for them, but staff members will also be deployed to the community for this important assignment,” he said.
Maitafsir further explained that the initiative to educate residents of the community and surrounding areas would serve as a test case for the commission’s renewed strategy for tackling illiteracy.
He therefore urged staff of the commission who reside within various communities to prepare for the urgent task of expanding literacy interventions, noting that the programme in the Aco community would commence soon.
