Adamu Adamu, Nigeria’s Education Minister

The stakeholders in mass literacy sector have urged the Nigerian National Council for Adult Education (NNCAE) to equip Nigerians with skills acquisition for effective participation in nation’s building.

They made the call in a communique signed by Prof. Lucy Okupkon, Chairperson of the communique team at the 2017 Annual Conference of NNCAE and partners on Thursday in Abuja, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.

According to the stakeholders, adult education practitioners should redouble their efforts in addressing the issues of illiteracy in Nigeria.

“They should do so by collaborating with the National Mass Education Commission (NMEC), the National Commission Nomadic Education (NCNE), the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), International Development Partners and Non-Governmental Organizations among others.”

They said that NNCAE as a body should reach out to institutions of higher learning within and outside the country in order to ensure that Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) ‘4’ was achieved.

“Also, the council should ensure inclusive, equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all in Nigeria.

“NNCAE should partner with the three tiers of government; Local, State and Federal to ensure that Adult and Non-Formal Education programmes for skill acquisition are made available to people in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps.

” This will enable them become self-reliant, self-employed and economically independent and ensure that the programme is sustained until they are resettled in their home states.”

According to them, educational planners and researchers should use the outcome of their research work for innovative education programmes for adults and youths to combat social vices, unemployment and security challenges in the society.

They added that the council should work towards ensuring proper formulation and implementation of policies that affect the practice of adult education in the country.

They stressed that community based and participatory action research by scholars in adult education should be encouraged.

“NNCAE should develop appropriate programmes for the promotion of digital literacy skills for youths and adults.

“NNCAE, NMEC, National Orientation Agency(NOA) and State Agencies for Mass Education (SAME)should create sensitisation and awareness programmes through media on the need to maintain cleanliness and healthy environment to avoid epidemics in Nigeria.”

The stakeholders also advised that the council should encourage the propagation of peace and family life education in all institutions of learning.

According to the communique, this will help in curbing youth restiveness and encourage peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.