The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), yesterday, harped on addressing foundational literacy and numeracy for improved learning in the country.
The global agency noted that the crisis poses not just a threat to Nigeria’s future, but also to the global community.
According to the organisation, during a workshop tagged, “Turning the Tide on Nigeria’s Learning Crisis: A Southwest Media Dialogue on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)” in Benin City, close to two million children have been equipped with learning materials between 2018 and 2022.
Reviewing foundational literacy and numeracy in the country, Education Specialist at UNICEF Nigeria, Yetunde Oluwatosin, said her organisation was determined to expand the number of children with learning materials to 4.8 million by 2027.
While presenting a paper on “Nigeria Learning Passport: An innovative learning solution for classrooms and at home,” Babagana Aminu, who is also an Education Specialist at UNICEF Nigeria, canvassed adequate funding, resources from both the government and private sector, as well as technical support for teachers and schools as lasting solutions.
On her part, UNICEF Communication Officer, Blessing Ejiofor, urged the media to positively influence policies and decisions for enhanced learning outcomes.
Also speaking, Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Oviawe, stressed that the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBest) programme, implemented by the Governor Godwin Obaseki, had bettered the lot of the sector in the South-South state.