By Olatunji Ogundipe, Press Secretary, International Family Foundation
Lagos, Nigeria –
On International Literacy Day, the International Family Foundation (IFF) delivered a clarion call that echoes from classrooms to boardrooms: literacy is non-negotiable.
The Global and Local Literacy Crisis
Globally, 739 million adults and young people remain cut off from the basic ability to read and write; a barrier that traps lives in a cycle of poverty and exclusion.
In Nigeria, the picture is no less stark:
• The adult literacy rate hovers around 62–63%, meaning nearly 38% of adults remain illiterate, translating to tens of millions lacking fundamental literacy skills.   .
• Among youth aged 15–24, literacy rates edge higher—around 73%—but rural women lag significantly behind, with as low as 52%, widening the gender and rural-urban divide.   .
• Nationwide, over 10 million children remain out of school. Lagosians and IFF volunteers even staged a 431-hour reading marathon to spotlight this urgent crisis. .
Nigerians Are Speaking Out, Loud and Clear
A Nigerian advocate participating in the reading marathon put it poignantly:
“Most people don’t have access to books… I participated to encourage inclusive education.” 
Words of Wisdom on Illiteracy
Two powerful quotes underscore the moral urgency of literacy:
“My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors.” — Maya Angelou 
“Better to lose a book to a child, than to lose a child to illiteracy.” — Richard Allington 
The IFF’s Vision: A Stronger Society Through Literacy
Olatunji Ogundipe, IFF’s Press Secretary, reminds us that “a better family leads to a better society.” Literacy isn’t just an academic goal—it’s the foundation of resilient families, inclusive communities, and empowered citizens.
IFF urges:
• Policymakers to prioritize literacy in funding and policy.
• Communities to support local reading programs, especially in underserved areas.
• Individuals to advocate—to demand accountability—and to close the literacy gap, brick by brick, book by book.
Why This Matters
A child who learns to read today might lead the nation tomorrow. A woman who writes her name reclaims dignity. Each literate life strengthens the fabric of our society.
On this International Literacy Day—let’s not mark a calendar date. Let’s sound the alarm. Let’s move the needle. Because literacy isn’t just a skill—it’s a right. Will you join the call?
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