Literacy – the ability to read and write – has a long history. The earliest forms of written communication dates all the way back to 3500 B.C., with Mesopotamia, Egypt and China acting as early civilizations’ epicenters.
The United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) noted literacy is a fundamental human right and the cornerstone of life-long learning.
Literacy has the capacity to change lives. It is essential for social and human growth.
Also, it is an instrument of empowerment for individuals, families, and communities to enhance their health, income, and relationships with the rest of the world.
Early man carved writings on cave walls and tablets before the discovery of papyrus paper in Egypt.
The invention of paper made reading simpler and more convenient for centuries, but because of the recent development of electronic tablets and smart phones, society is experiencing a new wave of education through literacy.
Similarly, in the battle for educational equality, there have been advances. During the Middle Ages, for the most part, girls learning to read and write was frowned upon, and discouraged.
In the twentieth century literacy was declared a human right, subsequently, many countries supported it.
Education is a necessary human right and component of long-term poverty reduction.
It’s the key to the development of wealthy, robust economies. Literacy and education also maintain peaceful, stable communities.
Research has demonstrated a girl literacy significantly impacts her physical, social, and economic well-being for not only herself, but also her country.
Supporting female education provides a stronger voice to fight for improvements in their own lives and the lives of others.
A girl whose mother is literate is 50% more likely to be immunized, 50% more likely to live over the age of five, and twice as likely to attend school.
Allowing girls to make her own decisions, such as who to marry, helps facilitate her education and pursue more excellent economic prospects too.
Individual wages rise due to female literacy as well; worldwide data suggests every additional year in schoolboosts a woman’s earnings by 20%.
Lawrence Summers, a former-World Bank Chief Economist, stated, “literacy might well be the highest-return of investment possible in the developing world owing to the benefits women, their families, and society reap.”
Girls have been pushed to the bottom of the ladder in a world beset by conflicts, inequality, and poor governance, and her neglect has a rippling effect on the fabric of society.
According to UNESCO, “52% of adult females are literate compared to 68% of adult males in Sub-Saharan region of Africa and no country in this region has achieved gender parity in primary and secondary education.
Nigerian females represent an enormous, untapped resource.
Girls’ options are limited, and their school completion is impacted by various issues, including economic hurdles and socio-cultural norms and practices discouraging participation in formal education.
Nigeria is home to one-fifth of children worldwide whom aren’t attending school, more than half being girls.
Nigeria has a 61% literacy rate, with over half of women and a quarter of men unable to read or write.
While the northern states have the most significant percentage of out-of-school children, just 4% of impoverished girls in the Northwest district can read.
In June 2017, Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Adamu Hussaini, stated the country had the largest number of children not attending school at 10.5 million; with girls accounting for the majority.
Because of poor quality of living and poverty, the out-of-school girls are tasked with supporting their families through menial jobs, physical labor, and managing tiny enterprises.
As the circle of inequity continues, her upbringing impedes her prospects of breaking out of the mold of poverty.
Literacy is empowering, and a literate society is a progressive culture. Empowering girls’ benefits society’s growth.
For this reason, Emmanuel Osemota Foundation (EOF) was established to empower girls within the local communities of Nigeria, via education and high-quality healthcare, to battle illiteracy and reduce the number of illiterate females.
To help curb the illiteracy of girls and women, EOF provides: free education and educational supplies.
Empowerment initiatives (such as free community medical outreaches), business projects, anti-human trafficking activities, and community advocacy to all people, including females.
The foundation is convinced society is undergoing fast technological changes and being a part would serve the aim of narrowing the literacy gap among girls.
EOF offers training programs, and noteworthy contributions, to female child literacy in local communities in Edo, Nigeria.
This foundation further believes every human has equal worth (regardless of age), and every girl has an inherent right to literacy in order to reach her full potential.
As a result, EOF stands in solidarity with all females whom are far from attaining literacy.
Support us today as we continue the: Empowerment of The Girl-Child Through Literacy.
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Written by: Emmanuel J. Osemota
