Funmi Ogundare
21 October 2008
Lagos — Mrs. Louisa Oyia was 27 when she lost her husband. By sheer determination, the petty trader saw all her six children through school.
At 65 and now a grand-mother, Mrs. Oyia's grand-children encouraged her to enroll in an adult literacy class.
Miss Kemi Abiodun's, late father was not educated and saw no need to educate his children, especially the girls. With a family of 15 to cater for, it was difficult for him to send his children to school.
With the seemingly hopeless situation, Kemi, had to hop from one menial job to the other to make ends meet. She was however lucky to have been introduced to an adult literacy centre by a friend of hers, to acquire skills.
Mr. Christopher Idemudia 32 had to drop out of primary school to live with his uncle who was a businessman. Luckily for Idemudia, a friend of his sister's encouraged him to enrol at an adult literacy centre so as to improve himself.
These three and 35 others, recently graduated from Flan Educare Post Adult Literacy Centres at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Christ the King Catholic Church (CKC), Akowonjo and St. Sabina Catholic Church, Idimangoro, Agege, all in Lagos.
Speaking at the fifth graduation ceremony in Lagos, the Coordinator of the centres, Mrs. Flora Takim-Ndifon commended the graduands for their courage and tenacity to learn and urged them to build on the foundation that had been given to them.
She also called on corporate bodies and individuals to impact positively on education, "we shouldn't always blame the government for lack of quality education in the society."
She thanked the facilitators for their support, despite their little earnings, which she said was not commensurate with the work they did.
She challenged parishes that conduct adult literacy programmes and the society to take adult literacy education seriously. "If we do not take ourselves seriously, who will take us serious. If we have to solve the problems of poverty in the society, the issue of adult literacy also has to be solved."
Director, Agency for Mass Education (AME), Mrs. Omodunke Olatubi, commended the Coordinator for her effort at reducing illiteracy to a tolerable level and encouraging the learners. She told the graduands, "I want to assure you that at this level, you are equipped with basic educational requirement to face the challenges of secondary school education in a non-formal sector."
Olatubi said the agency had just completed a three-day mobilisation and sensitisation programme in five local government areas in Lagos, to enhance literacy rate in the state.
She urged the graduands to "pass on the torch, publicise the importance of education and assist at least, one person in acquiring literacy education as part of the general crusade at eradicating the problems of illiteracy and poverty in the state."
Mrs. Oyia, the oldest among the graduands, who spoke on their behalf, thanked the Coordinator for giving them the opportunity to learn. "I tell people that I love education. My coming to the centre has really refreshed me. I am so happy that I have the chance to do so."
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