KEYNOTE ADDRESS ON 2020 INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY

8 September was declared international literacy day by UNESCO on the 26 October 1966 at the 14th session of UNESCO’s General conference. It was celebrated for the first time in 1967. Since then it has been celebrated annually around the globe

AIM

• to highlight and promote the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights to Individuals, Communities and Societies.
• it is also to advance Literacy Agenda towards a more literate and sustainable Society.

2020 Theme:
Literacy teaching and learning in COVID- 19 Crisis and beyond. It focuses Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond especially on role of educators and changing pedagogies. In the Non-Formal Sub-Sector perspective, the theme enumerates literacy as a lifelong learning learning and therefore focuses on teaching of youth and adults.

• The pandemic which led to lockdown of many countries economic activities in which Nigeria is not exempted affected Lagos education sector as well as the Adult Literacy Centres in the State.
  In reality to there have been a gap between policy discourse and reality.
• The pandemic has really led us into reality.
• Appreciation to some facilitators that quickly key into on-line teaching of their youths and adult learners.
• This forum will provide an opportunity to reflect on and discuss how innovation and effective andragogies can be used in youths and adult literacy programmes to face the pandemic and beyond.
• It will also give an opportunity to analyse the role of facilitators as well as formulate effective policies, systems, governance and measures that can support facilitators and learning.
• I therefore enjoin all Stakeholders to pay attention to the Resource Persons and contribute immensely to the programme.

Thank you all.