The United Nations (UN) has stressed the importance of literacy in accelerating peace and development, while calling for greater efforts of everyone to read, write and transform their lives.
The UN Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the world body celebrated this year’s International Literacy Day on Sept. 8.
The day’s observance is with a special focus on the fundamental relationship between literacy and peace.
“We must not allow conflicts to deprive children and adults of the crucial opportunity of literacy.
“Literacy is a fundamental human right, and the foundation of all education and life-long learning,” the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, said in her message for the Day.
She added that literacy transformed the lives of people, allowing them to make informed choices and empowering the individuals to become agents of change.
“Lasting peace depends on the development of literate citizenship and access to education for all.
“Amidst political upheaval and escalating violence in many parts of the world, literacy must be a priority in the peace-building agenda of all nations.
“Peace and sustainable development are inter-dependent, and it is crucial for the two to develop and strengthen simultaneously.
“Literacy is also a development accelerator, enabling societies to grow more inclusively and sustainably.
“Literacy programmes can become a key component of future development strategies, opening new opportunities and skills for all,” Bokova said.
NAN reports that this year marks the end of the UN Literacy Decade, proclaimed in 2002 to galvanise government action worldwide against illiteracy.
Over the decade, and in spite of considerable effort and some major achievements, 775 million people are still considered non-literate, of whom 85 per cent live in 41 countries.
UN Secrtary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his message, said the global movement for education needed a big push.
He said this was why he would be launching the Education First initiative later in September.
According to him, the initiative focuses on three priorities, which are putting every child in school, improving the quality of learning and fostering global citizenship. (NAN)