The Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All, Gombe State Chapter, joined the global community to commemorate the 2025 International Literacy Day, with a call for greater investment in digital literacy to bridge the widening gap between Africa and other parts of the world.
Speaking in Gombe on Thursday, the State Coordinator of CSACEFA, Hajiya Halima Mahdi, described literacy as “not just the ability to read and write, but the ability to understand, evaluate and participate in today’s fast-changing digital society.”
This year’s celebration, themed “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era,” underscores the need to combine traditional learning with digital skills.
Mahdi noted that while communication, business and education have gone digital across the globe, “many communities in Africa are still struggling with basic literacy, let alone adapting to digital spaces.”
She lamented the persistence of out-of-school children in Gombe despite government efforts, saying:
“Everywhere you turn, you see children roaming the streets when their peers are in school. Until we tackle this, our progress will remain limited. Literacy is the foundation for peace, unity and economic growth.”
Mahdi, however, commended the Gombe State Government for initiatives to improve access to education, especially among vulnerable groups. She cited the payment of WAEC fees for students, support for the AGILE project, collaboration with SUBEB, and the strengthening of adult and non-formal education programmes.
“We must acknowledge the efforts of Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya in reducing the number of out-of-school children. But we must also remember that literacy is a continuous process. In the digital era, we cannot stop at reading and writing—we must empower our people with digital skills,” she added.
CSACEFA emphasised that literacy is not just an education goal, but a catalyst for socio-economic transformation. “When people can read, write, and navigate digital platforms, they can participate more actively in governance, in business, and in building peaceful communities,” Mahdi said.
