NMEC urges literacy facilitators to embrace digital tools
The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC) has urged literacy facilitators across the country to embrace digital tools or risk leaving millions of learners behind. The
- From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja
The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC) has urged literacy facilitators across the country to embrace digital tools or risk leaving millions of learners behind.
The Commission noted that traditional chalk-and-board classrooms alone can no longer meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world.
Speaking during a capacity-building workshop in Abuja on Thursday, NMEC Executive Secretary, Prof. Musa Maitatsir, urged facilitators to fully integrate technology into adult education programmes, describing the digital shift as a “turning point” in Nigeria’s fight against illiteracy.
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He said that the initiative aligned with the human capital development goals of the Bola Tinubu administration and global Sustainable Development Goals, particularly inclusive and equitable quality education.
According to him, facilitators are the “bridge between policy and practice,” whose commitment will determine the success of Nigeria’s digital literacy revolution.
He said, “The Fourth Industrial Revolution is no longer coming; it is here. This is not science fiction; this is the future we must create today.”
Represented by the Commission’s Director of Literacy and Development, Dr. John Ede, he stressed that smartphones, e-learning platforms, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are now the “new blackboards and chalks,” offering unprecedented access to education for millions of Nigerians.
The training exposed facilitators to tools such as Google Classroom, Moodle, WhatsApp Business, and AI-powered personalised learning systems, equipping them to deliver content virtually, create digital materials, and use data-driven teaching methods.
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Prof Maitatsir painted a vision of a connected learning landscape: a rural learner in Sokoto attending classes remotely, a trader in Lagos practising literacy on her phone, and a herder in Borno accessing lessons in local languages via audio content.
While optimistic, the NMEC boss acknowledged significant hurdles, including poor internet connectivity, limited smartphone access, and erratic electricity supply in many communities.
To address these challenges, NMEC called for partnerships with telecom companies to provide subsidised or zero-rated data for literacy programmes and develop offline-compatible applications.
Read Also: NMEC launches community-led literacy initiative to skill up 300,000 learners in FCT
“The best digital facilitator is still the one who understands the learner’s story,” Maitatsir emphasised, urging facilitators to combine empathy with innovation in their approach.
Prof Blessing Anyikwa of the University of Lagos, a resource person at the workshop, highlighted that the success of the initiative would depend on facilitators’ ability to move from basic digital awareness to practical application.
She stressed continuous training, peer learning, and flexible, personalised approaches as critical for adult learners.
Prof Anyikwa also called for stronger collaboration between government agencies, development partners, and civil society to sustain the momentum, noting that closing Nigeria’s literacy gap requires innovation, policy support, and consistent investment.
