2 days Ago By Fred Nwaozor
For any existing society to be conscious enough in meeting the required target for societal growth and development, the literacy of the populace thereof must have attained a reasonable level. There is currently a compelling need to intensify efforts towards promoting literacy among the Nigerian populace, knowing full well it’s the only way a society could attain the needed greatness. Illiteracy is unequivocally a severe wind that blows no society any good, hence deserves to be treated like a dangerous disease at all cost.
September 8 annually, the world commemorates the International Literacy Day as stipulated by the United Nations (UN). It is a day that calls for the promotion of literacy at all levels in order to totally eradicate the lingering dangers of illiteracy across the globe. This signifies the 2024 edition was marked last Sunday.
Taking cognizance of the fact that over 775 million adults in the world lack minimum education, coupled with the acknowledgement of the real dangers of illiteracy in any society, the commemoration of the International Literacy Day came into existence on November 17, 1965 by the effort of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It was first celebrated in 1966. The aim of adopting the initiative was to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals and the international community at large, as well as to raise public awareness on the extraordinary value of the written words and the necessity to promote a literate society.
Literacy, according to BBC English Dictionary, is ‘the ability to read and write’. Over the years, there have been several definitions of literacy by various schools of thought. In some quarters, it’s described as a fundamental right and a foundation for lifetime learning, better well-being and livelihoods.
Surely, literacy is a driver for sustainable and inclusive development; it’s a tool for personal empowerment and a means for social and human development; it is equally an instrument of empowerment to improve one’s health, income and his/her relationship with the world. Literacy is at the heart of basic education for all, and essential for alleviating poverty, eradicating child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality, as well as ensuring sustainable development, peace and functional democracy. Hence, educational opportunities and other academic prowess depend solely on literacy.
The truth remains that, we need to be able to read and write in order to get through our basic daily tasks or activities, such as writing a shopping list, gaining admission into any school, and securing a job opportunity. No doubt, literacy opens up a window of opportunities to everyone of us; and it’s very essential to our individual and national developments. Since it’s only a literate community otherwise known as a ‘dynamic community’ that has the ability to exchange ideas and engage in debate, there’s no gain reiterating that literacy is the only tool that can guarantee a healthy and hearty living, and an encouraging development among mankind.
Illiteracy, however, is an obstacle to a better quality of life. As a societal cankerworm, it has yielded several uncalled and inconsequential stigmatizations among humanity, both in the past and present, thereby leading to series of unimaginable and uncontrollable violence. Undoubtedly, several people in the world have derailed in their respective pursuits owing to illiteracy.
An illiterate person, whom is considered as a vulnerable being, is exposed to numerous maltreatments or abuses, including humiliation, stigmatization, molestation, intimidation, extortion, and drug abuse, just to mention but a few. The dangers of illiteracy cannot be overemphasized; it has led to several social, economic, cultural, religious, and political mayhems at various levels of human eendeavours. Without equivocation, illiteracy has subjected humanity to uncountable vices, and has remained the major cause of the increasing rate of abject poverty as well as several severe illnesses, which often result in death.
For over sixty-six (66) years, the UNESCO has worked relentlessly to ensure that literacy remains a priority on national and international agenda through its formal and non-formal literacy programmes worldwide. Till date, the organization is earnestly striving towards realizing the vision of a literate world for all, considering that no meaningful development can take place in a society that lacks basic knowledge, or literacy. Part of the pertinent goals regarding Universal Education is aimed at ensuring that every human being, especially a child, has the opportunity to make a better life.
Unfortunately, too many children in the world today grow up without this chance because they are denied their basic right to even attend nursery or primary school. Lessons learnt over recent years have shown that, meeting the goal of universal literacy calls not only for more effective efforts but also for renewed political wills, and for doing things differently at all levels – locally, nationally and internationally, irrespective of the challenges that might be faced. At such a critical time like this, and in the spirit of the International Literacy Day, we are expected to contribute our respective quotas toward ensuring everyone around us understands the essence of having a literate society, which would go a long way to tackle the various dangers of illiteracy that is earnestly tarnishing our socio-economic image.
To this end, in our individual and collective capacities, we must strive to strengthen awareness on the prime essence of literacy, which can only be acquired via education. Most importantly, the various rudimentary stakeholders – such as the families, communities, religious bodies, schools, and the mass media – are required to use their various immunities to sensitize their members or audience, on the inevitable impact of literacy. Moreover, governments at all levels must as well ensure the cost of education is subsidized to the barest minimum to enable the poorest of the poor key into the crusade towards tackling the lingering dangers of illiteracy that blows no one any good.
As a people, we must take decisive decision in a bid to promoting societal literacy, which is the pathway to attaining the needed growth and development. There’s no better time to achieve the expected goal than now. Hence, we must say no to further delay.
Think about it!.
