The Federal Government has earmarked $6.43 million “self benefiting” Trust Fund for the delivery of quality literacy programme for estimated 40 million illiterate Nigerians by 2015.

Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Education, Alhaji Jibrin Paiko, declared this yesterday, in Ilorin at a workshop for 111 adult and youth facilitators in three local government areas of Baruten, Edu and Kaiama in Kwara State.

He explained that the project, was captured under a three-year strategic frame work (2012-2015), aimed at revitalising adult and youth literacy project.

Paiko said it was designed to meet the education for all, EFA, goals and education related Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, by 2015.

Represented by a Monitoring Officer in the agency, Mr. Lukuman Paiko said: “The workshop held simultaneously in Lagos, Edo and Kwara, is to improve the skills and knowledge of 4,107 facilitators across the country at the average of 111 per state.”

Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Saka Onimago, who declared the workshop open, said: “Each of the facilitators must enroll  at least 24 adult and youth illiterates and make them literates  within nine months.”

The commissioner was represented by a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mohammad Alabi.

He commended the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, for sponsoring the workshop.