The World Literacy Foundation has highlighted the use of solar-powered tablets to expand access to learning materials in Nigerian classrooms as the country continues to grapple with gaps in school enrolment and literacy.
The Foundation showcased its Sun Books initiative during an International Literacy Day event in Lagos on Wednesday, where educators, youth representatives and corporate partners discussed efforts to improve access to reading and learning resources among Nigerian children.
The Sun Books programme provides solar-powered tablets preloaded with up to 600 e-books, stories, educational games, videos and audiobooks in English and local languages.
The devices are designed to operate without mains electricity or an internet connection, making them suitable for communities where access to electricity and digital connectivity remains limited.
The Foundation said teachers are also trained as part of the deployment of the devices to schools.
The programme, which began in 2014, has distributed more than 1,000 tablets and is currently active in Rivers State, while also operating in Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The intervention comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s education challenges, including a large population of children outside the formal school system and uneven literacy outcomes across the country.
According to figures cited at the event, about 18.3 million children in Nigeria are out of school, including approximately 10.2 million of primary school age.
The World Literacy Foundation also cited Nigeria’s adult literacy rate at about 70 percent, while noting that literacy challenges are more pronounced in the country’s Northwest and Northeast regions.
Andrew Kay, founder and chief executive officer of the World Literacy Foundation, said literacy should be viewed beyond the ability to read, describing it as a means of improving access to opportunities and reducing poverty.
“Literacy goes beyond just learning to read; it is a crucial key to unlocking opportunities, reducing poverty, and helping children reach their full potential,” Kay said.
He added that millions of young people still lack access to books and the support required to develop literacy skills.
Representatives of Sterling Bank, Money Africa, TotalEnergies, Heirs Energies and Coronation Group attended the Lagos event, alongside head teachers from Ikota Nursery and Primary School and El Perez Nursery and Primary School, the education secretary for Eti-Osa Local Government and youth ambassador Rayman Agban.
The Foundation said learning challenges also extend to children who are enrolled in school, noting that school attendance does not necessarily translate into literacy.
It cited learning poverty among 64 percent of children in rural Nigeria, compared with 54 percent in urban areas.
At the global level, UNESCO estimates that hundreds of millions of adults lack basic reading and writing skills, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for a large share of the population affected.
The Foundation is also running its One Book at a Time campaign, through which individuals can contribute $10 to provide a book to a child in need. The initiative aims to reach 500,000 children, with donors able to designate Africa as the region where their contribution will be directed.
The 2026 International Literacy Day marks 60 years since the observance was established by UNESCO in 1966. This year’s theme is “Literacy for People, the Planet, and Prosperity.”
