A-Ibom partners UK publisher, NGO on literacy initiative

By Daniel Gumm
UYO—A NEW initiative  to boost literacy level in Nigeria will take off in government schools in September this year in Akwa Ibom State.

The project is  a partnership between the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education, University of Uyo, leading United Kingdom educational publisher, Jolly Learning Ltd. and the UK-based non-governmental organisation, Stepping Stones Nigeria.

The new initiative will provide free Jolly Phonics books to children in all public primary schools in the state and will involve capacity building for 3,500 teachers.

According to Prof. Comfort Ekpo, Research Team Leader and immediate Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Uyo, “our research has proven that Jolly Phonics is an extremely effective way of teaching, reading and writing to children.

“We believe that this method has great potential to improve the educational landscape in Nigeria,” he added.
Materials and training valued at N500 million for the initiative have been donated by Jolly Learning Ltd. Chief Executive, Christopher Jolly.

Jolly said was delighted to support the initiative in Akwa Ibom State and wished to “extend the offer of free Jolly Phonics pupil books and training to all state government in Nigeria.”