UNESCO trains Girls, women on mobile phone 

reading

Abuja –  Prof. Hassana Alidou, the Regional Director, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) said the organisation had started training of some girls and women in mobile phone reading.

Alidou, who was represented by Dr Mrs Sofia Mohammed, a Training Consultant said this at a five-day media facilitators training programme on Monday in Abuja.

Hassana noted that the programme was aimed at empowering girls and women in literacy and skills development through the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT).

She said that about 60,000 girls from junior secondary schools all over the country were targeted.

“About 47 per cent of Nigerians are illiterates. Of this figure, about 67.8 per cent are women.

“Emphasis will be laid on mobile phones and how this medium can be used to educate and inform our target audience.

“Women and girls read longer than men and therefore they tend to do better when given proper exposure,’’ she said.

In his remarks, Mr Abiodun Bello, a Technical Expert with the FCT Agency for Mass Education decried the failure of the ongoing literacy by radio programme in the 36 states.

He noted that the programme had failed to reach and empower its target audience.

He urged the facilitators and participants to take the training seriously to deliver the objective of the programme effectively.

- S