SEPTEMBER 8th every year marks UNESCO International Literacy Day (ILD) celebration. International Literacy Day is celebrated annually worldwide and it brings together governments, multi and bilateral organisations, NGOs, the private sector, communities, teachers, learners and experts in the field of education. It is an occasion to mark achievements and reflect on ways of countering challenges facing the promotion of literacy as an integral part of lifelong learning within and beyond the 2030 Education Agenda.
This year’s theme was “Literacy in a digital world,” and the aim as stated in the message of Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, was to look at what literacy skills people need to navigate in an increasingly digitally-mediated society, and to explore the effective literacy policies and programmes that can leverage the opportunities that the digital world provides. Also, it aimed at examining the challenges and opportunities in promoting literacy in a digital world.
Speaking on this year’s celebration, founder of Medina Book Club in Lagos, Onyinye Nkwocha expressed his excitement about this year’s theme, saying it is important for our education system in a rapidly evolving generation.
He said, “I believe that disruptions happen because people are thinking of better ways of living and existence. The human mind has proven itself to be capable of creating and recreating wonders when duly applied. The digital expansion in our world today is an example of this. However, my take on all of this, is to find a way of bridging the gap between privileged and less privileged children in society. I say privileged in the sense that they have access to mobile gadgets, Internet access, and opportunities that prepare or equip them for the digital world. And I’m worried about how we can enable an even distribution of these opportunities across board, such that when we get to the future we are all preparing for, everybody would have been duly enhanced.”