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WORLD LITERACY DAY: A BEACON FOR PROGRESS IN NIGERIA AND BEYOND
Written by Susan Omenuko | EOON Care Blog
Every year on 8 September, the world marks International Literacy Day, a UNESCO initiative first declared in 1966. Since its first celebration in 1967, this day has stood as a global reminder that literacy is more than reading and writing—it is the foundation of empowerment, health, and sustainable development.
For Nigeria, literacy is not just a measure of education—it is a tool for survival, dignity, and national growth.
THE GLOBAL CONTEXT
While the world has made strides, literacy remains out of reach for many. UNESCO estimated that over 750 million people lacked basic literacy skills as recently as 2020, with the majority living in low- and middle-income countries. These figures remind us that literacy is not a privilege but a basic human right still denied to too many.
NIGERIA’S LITERACY LANDSCAPE
Nigeria mirrors both hope and challenge.
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In 2018, adult literacy was around 62%, with sharp divides:
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Urban males – 86%
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Rural females – 35%
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By 2022, literacy improved to 69%, yet disparities remained stark.
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UNICEF reports that only 26% of children aged 7–14 in Nigeria have basic reading and numeracy skills. Even more worrying, over 18 million children remain out of school—the highest figure globally.
These numbers highlight the urgency of tackling inequality in access to quality education.
WHY LITERACY MATTERS FOR NIGERIA
Literacy is a lifeline that cuts across health, economy, and social wellbeing:
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Health: Literate mothers are more likely to ensure child survival and practice preventive care. Health literacy helps patients understand treatment, medication, and healthy living.
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Economy: Reading and writing improve employability, productivity, and national development.
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Society: Literacy strengthens civic participation, reduces vulnerability to misinformation and extremism, and breaks cycles of poverty.
EOON CARE’S ROLE IN THE LITERACY EQUATION
Though EOON Care is not an education provider, our mission sits at the crossroads of health, wellbeing, and empowerment. Literacy directly influences all three.
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Health Literacy: We simplify medical guidance for our clients—helping families, the elderly, and caregivers understand treatments, nutrition, and prevention.
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Community Engagement: Our training and outreach use simple language, visuals, and caregiver support to make knowledge more accessible.
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Supporting Vulnerable Groups: From rural communities to the elderly, we help those most affected by low literacy access healthcare, social care, and self-advocacy.
At EOON Care, promoting literacy—particularly health literacy—is part of building stronger, healthier, and more inclusive communities.
CONCLUSION
This World Literacy Day, Nigeria is reminded that progress is possible, but urgent gaps remain. Literacy must be more than a statistic—it must be a tool that empowers every child, family, and community.
By championing accessible communication, health literacy, and inclusive education pathways, organisations like EOON Care contribute to a Nigeria where literacy fuels better health, equity, and development.
References (Harvard style)
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UNESCO (2025) International Literacy Day. [online] Available at: UNESCO.
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World Economic Forum (2019) ‘International Literacy Day: the global inequalities of youth literacy’, WEF Stories.
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Nielsen, H. (2021) Literacy in Nigeria (SDG Target 4.6), FAWCO.
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Emaojo, E.F. (2024) ‘Nigerian literacy crisis deepening, affecting millions of children’, DevelopmentAid, 21 November.
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Shields, P. (2025) Literacy. Wikipedia.
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EOON Care Nigeria Ltd (2025) Social Care – personal care services. [online] Available at: www.eooncare.com.
Hashtags
#InternationalLiteracyDay #LiteracyDay #ReadToLead #EducationForAll #LiteracyMatters #LearnReadWrite #ClosingTheLiteracyGap #BooksForChange #GlobalLiteracy #ReadAndRise #EmpowerThroughLiteracy #LiteracyForSustainableDevelopment #ReadNigeria #NigeriaForLiteracy #EooncareSupportsLiteracy
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