Don decries poor literacy level among Nigerian children, calls for urgent action

The National President of the Literacy Promotion Association of Nigeria (LiPAN), Professor Nkechi M. Christopher, has decried the prevalent poor level of literacy among Nigerian children and young people, calling for urgent action by all stakeholders to tackle it.

Professor Christopher spoke ahead of the 20th Biennial Conference of the Literacy Promotion Association of Nigeria (formerly the Reading Association of Nigeria – RAN), taking place in Ibadan from Tuesday, October 13 to Thursday, October 15, 2026.

She said the theme of this year’s conference is “Early Literacy Development in Nigeria: Straightening Foundations for Learning and National Development,” and that it would bring together educators, researchers, policymakers, literacy practitioners, and other stakeholders “to examine issues surrounding early literacy development and their implications for learning and national development.”

Christopher said it was time the government and all relevant stakeholders came together to fashion out ways through which literacy can be promoted among Nigerians, pointing out that the quality of literacy foundations available to Nigerian children and young people required renewed attention.

She said: “Literacy is not merely an educational issue but a matter of national development. Greater public discussion of how children acquire strong literacy foundations, and of the responsibilities of families, schools, communities, government and other stakeholders, is essential to building a stronger foundation for learning in Nigeria.”

Christopher expressed concern that literacy among Nigerian pupils and students had been relegated to the background, contending that children are held back for about 12 years in schools by the Nigerian system, after which they are sent out as illiterates.

“I am angry with a system that brings in children in the name of free education, holds them for 12 years, and sends them out as illiterates. A child begins developing literacy long before schooling. Listening to stories, talking with parents and caregivers, looking at pictures, handling books, and discovering that marks and symbols carry meaning are all part of the early journey towards literacy,” Professor Christopher stated.

According to her, it was also important to recognise that literacy is more than reading, pointing out that “reading, writing, speaking, listening, thinking and evaluating are all interconnected dimensions of effective language use.”

The conference, she stated, will feature plenary sessions and panel discussions which will provide opportunities for informed engagement with key issues in literacy development and for sharing perspectives on practical approaches to strengthening literacy in Nigeria.