The Adolescent Health and Information Projects (AHIP) has called for renewed commitment and stronger investment in literacy as a fundamental tool for empowering adolescents, women, children and other vulnerable groups to participate meaningfully in society and contribute to sustainable development.
In a statement to commemorate the 2026 International Literacy Day, the Executive Director of AHIP, Dr. Mairo V. Bello, said literacy remains a powerful foundation for education, health, economic empowerment, human rights and informed decision-making.
Dr. Bello noted that in an increasingly digital world, literacy must go beyond the ability to read and write, stressing the need to equip young people with digital, health, media and financial literacy skills that can enable them to navigate information, identify misinformation and make informed choices.
According to her, adolescents and young people, particularly girls and those living in underserved communities, continue to face barriers to quality education and access to reliable information.
She therefore urged governments at all levels, development partners, civil society organisations, communities and the private sector to strengthen interventions that promote inclusive and equitable access to learning opportunities.
“Literacy is more than reading and writing. It is about having the knowledge, skills and confidence to understand information, make informed decisions and participate fully in society. For adolescents, literacy can be the difference between vulnerability and opportunity.”
The AHIP Executive Director further called for increased support for girls’ education, adolescent-friendly information services, community learning initiatives and digital literacy programmes, particularly in communities affected by poverty, insecurity and other social and economic challenges.
She also stressed the importance of creating safe and supportive learning environments where girls and boys can acquire relevant skills without discrimination or exclusion.
Dr. Bello said literacy initiatives should be designed to respond to the realities of today’s young people, including the growing influence of social media and artificial intelligence, noting that adolescents need the skills to critically assess information and protect themselves from harmful online content.
AHIP reaffirmed its commitment to working with government institutions, communities, development partners, schools and other stakeholders to advance programmes that promote literacy, adolescent health, access to information and the overall wellbeing of young people.
The organisation called on all stakeholders to use International Literacy Day as an opportunity to renew efforts towards ensuring that every child, adolescent and adult has the opportunity to acquire the literacy skills needed to live healthy, productive and dignified lives