Funmi Ilori, Nkem Osuigwe, Emmanuel Alabi Speak on Libraries, Literacy & Learning in Nigeria in a New Episode of ‘The Stream’

Roughly 40 percent of adults in Nigeria and 27 percent of youth are illiterate. That’s according to a 2015 UNESCO study. Experts fear those numbers will rise if the country doesn’t address the severe lack of functional public libraries.

Advocates say libraries are an “equal opportunity leveller” and play an important role in the promotion of reading habits, but the current condition of the Nigeria’s library system does not encourage a reading culture.

On this episode of The Stream, the hosts discuss this community pitched issue. They examine the barriers that are preventing libraries, literacy and learning in Nigeria and what the government and other organisations are doing to fix the problem.

The guests for the day are Funmi Ilori, founder, iRead Network Africa, Emmanuel Alabi a Secondary school geography teacher and Nkem Osuigwe, director, Anambra State Library Board.

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