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NMEC poised to provide mass literacy to out-of-school children in Imo

The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC) has vowed to reduce criminality and enhance socio-economic status in the state through the provision of literacy and skills to out-of-school children, unemployed youths, street children, men and women in Imo state

The body assured to engage State Agencies for Mass Education and the Imo State Government to champion the LEES Initiative in the state

Executive Secretary of the Commission – Professor Simon Akpama Ibor, disclosed this in Owerri at a forum on the level of implementation of literacy through Economic Empowerment Strategy (LEES) projects in the South-East Zone

Akpama Ibor had, on an assumption of duty and responsibility in the Commission in September 2021, introduced the “LEES Initiative” to empower outstanding graduants of learning centres, increasing enrolment and boosting the overall capacity in the Non-Formal Education Sector.

He said that the project, which is tailored to assess learners in different vocational skills like tailoring, hairdressing, and Home Economics / Catering, among others, in the six geo-political zones of the country, was envisioned to enable the beneficiaries to become self-reliant, self-employed and job creators.

According to him, this will indirectly draw them out of poverty and reduce crimes and other vices related to poverty and unemployment.

The Executive Secretary represented by the Ag Director, Special Programmes of the commission, Alugbere Rose (Mrs), disclosed that the LEES initiative, which had already been carried out in South-South, North-East, North-West and North –, came on board to redress the culture of some indigent clients who after acquiring literacy and vocational skills lack the resources and wherewithal to start their own business thereby bringing them back to square one.

In the speech, the HOD, Vocal skills And Contiinous Education) NMEC Nnenna Jane Ejieji, while giving a brief of LESS, enjoined state governments to emulate the Commission in her efforts to promote self–reliance, self-employment and job creation among the youths.

She listed items to be doled out to the 18 beneficiaries of the programmes in the orders of: first, second and third positions, including embroidery, fashion designing, Catering, Washing Hand Rollers, Towels Cylinders, Regulator, a Set of pots, ken Wood, embroidery scissors, addition that the Beauty Winner would smile home with 2 Hair dryers even as she assured that none of the Attendants would go home empty handed.

Adding her voice, the Director (Basic Education Department) Federal Ministry of Education – DR. (Mrs) Folake Olatunji –, through the Deputy Director (DD languages) of the ministry, Mrs Afolabi Taiwo, noted that literacy not only enriches one’s life but also creates opportunities for people to develop skills that would help them provide for themselves and their families.

He said: “The purpose is to make learners self-reliant, self-employed as well as employers of labour, thereby reducing the level of poverty in the country, reduce social ills and also boost the nation’s economy.

In his remarks, the Imo State Commissioner for Education, Professor Johncliff Nwadike, disclosed that the state government had already graduated a total of 15,000 youths in various skills acquisition programmes with a set of computers for each to become self-reliant and employer of labour.

He noted that the program, if implemented with greater vigour and seriousness, would stem the tide of the growing immorality and criminality in the country and pledged the support of the state government to it.

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