The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC) has commenced nationwide training for facilitators on digital competencies to improve literacy programme delivery across the country.

The Executive Secretary of NMEC, Prof. Garba Maitasfir, represented by the Director, Literacy and Development, John Edeh, said the initiative was part of efforts to reposition adult literacy education in line with global digital transformation.

Speaking at a workshop in Abuja, Maitasfir noted that the training marked another milestone in the commission’s drive to ensure that every Nigerian, irrespective of age, location, or socio-economic background, acquires basic literacy and numeracy skills.

The training forms part of NMEC’s broader strategy to modernise the delivery of adult education and expand access to literacy programmes across the country.

He noted that the Fourth Industrial Revolution has reshaped learning globally, making digital tools indispensable for effective literacy delivery.

“The world has changed. Smartphones, Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, mobile applications, and open educational resources have become the new blackboards and chalk of our time. For an agency like NMEC, whose mandate is to eradicate illiteracy and promote lifelong learning, we cannot afford to stand still while the world moves at digital speed,” he said.

Maitasfir explained that traditional face-to-face literacy classes had served the country well over the years, but were no longer sufficient to reach underserved populations.

He noted that women, rural dwellers, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups often faced barriers such as distance, insecurity, time constraints, and limited learning opportunities.

According to him, digital learning platforms would help bridge these gaps, enabling learners to access literacy lessons remotely through mobile devices and internet-based platforms.

With a smartphone and internet access, he stated that a learner in a remote village can attend literacy classes, while a trader can practice reading and numeracy during free hours.

“This is not science fiction; it is the future we must create today,” he said.

The NMEC chief explained that the training would equip participants with skills in developing interactive e-learning content, facilitating online classes, tracking learner progress using data analytics, and ensuring cyber safety for adult learners.

He added that the training was a follow-up to the 2022 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Institute for Lifelong Learning initiative under the Global Alliance for Literacy, aimed at strengthening educators’ digital competencies.

Digitally competent facilitators trained at the workshop would cascade the knowledge to literacy centres across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Maitasfir acknowledged challenges such as poor internet connectivity, limited access to smart devices, and unstable electricity supply, but assured participants that the commission was exploring partnerships with mobile network operators and development partners to address the gaps.

A Professor of Adult Basic Literacy and Non-Formal Education at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Blessing Anyikwa, noted that inadequate digital skills and economic constraints remained major barriers faced by facilitators and adult learners.

The training focused on helping facilitators understand different categories of digital devices and how to use them effectively for teaching.

“When facilitators lack knowledge of the features on digital devices, usability becomes a challenge. Economic factors also affect access to certain technologies. Our goal is to show that learning can still take place using both smartphones and feature phones, so that adults in rural communities are not left behind,” she said.

Anyikwa noted that the initiative would promote inclusive learning opportunities for women, men, and vulnerable populations through adaptable digital literacy methods.