Nigeria can’t achieve SDGs with over 20 million illiterates ― National Librarian

The National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria (NLN), Professor Chinwe Anunobi, has said that the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be a mirage with over 20 million Nigerian adult population who cannot read and write.

She, therefore, called for concerted efforts to reawaken the consciousness of all Nigerians to embrace the habit of reading with a view to eradicating illiteracy in Nigeria.

Anunobi spoke on Tuesday at the flag-off of the 2023 Annual Readership Promotion Campaign, which is one of the mandates of the National Library of Nigeria.

She, however, noted that the readership campaign being championed by NLN was yielding positive results, saying the number of illiterates in Nigeria would have been staggering without the intervention of the National Library and other stakeholders.

She added that the campaign is a continuous programme which takes place in all 36 states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

“Since 1980 when the programme was first inaugurated, the National Library has remained focused on the aims among others to inculcating reading habits for lifelong learning beyond reading for examinations, promotions and interview purposes: encouraging reading for sustainable growth and development: ensuring the provision of books and other reading materials.

“This age-long aim could be regarded as a foretaste of SDG No 4 which focuses on quality education inclusivity and equality for lifelong learning opportunities. Education of this sort cannot be achieved when 20 million Nigerians are illiterate, cannot read or write.

“It would have been staggering if the National Library and other development partners have not embraced these laudable programmes and supports,” she said.

The National Librarian particularly noted that in the year 2022, the programme impacted over 4000 people comprising secondary school children, male and female adults as well as 102 secondary schools.

“As part of our efforts to encourage and deepen reading habits the National Library has within the year donated One thousand eight hundred and (1,855) volumes in One thousand seven hundred forty(1,740) titles of reading materials to 16 primary, secondary and higher institutions. This is out of 46 institutions that made requests for reading materials support,” she said.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Andrew David Adejo who formerly launched the nationwide readership campaign, said this year’s theme: “Reading Your Way to the Top” is timely and appropriate, considering the state of reading culture in the world today and in particular, Nigeria that has been on the decline.

He said: “Democracy cannot thrive in ignorance, neither can development plans, like the Renewed Hope Agenda and the realisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) be met without the acquisition of knowledge which is gained through reading.”

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