Of New Englishes and and New Literacies

9.5. Developing a literacy policy for Nigeria
The world is driven by 21^st century literacies or what is simply called ‘New Literacies’ whether for learning or for living. Unfortunately, there is no literacy policy providing the minimum benchmark of literacy skills and competencies expected of Nigerians from primary school to the university level. Even when estimates are provided for the literacy level of Nigeria, what exactly is measured to determine those literacy levels is speculative. We do not know in which language the literacy level is measured for instance but one suspects that it is in English. Measuring the literacy level of Nigeria as a country on the basis of the traditional literacy skills of reading, writing and numeracy in the 21^st century, disguises the real issues involved in contemporary literacy discourse and practices. We cannot hope to produce globally competitive citizens when the quantity and quality of the literacy exposure of students are grossly deficient. The good news though is that the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Education and Research Development Council and the Northern Education Initiative Plus as well as the Reading Association of Nigeria and other agencies are working to develop the first National Reading Framework for Nigeria. Unfortunately and understandably, the inability to address the language question in Nigeria has stalled the work of developing a National Reading Framework. It is hoped that the deadlock will be resolved soon. At least, the National Reading Framework should be developed for English language learners in the first instance thereafter other languages can leverage on it. If that happens, the National Reading Framework will serve as impetus to drive the push for a literacy policy for Nigeria.

10. 
    Concluding Remarks and Appreciation
    

10. 1 Conclusion
Fr. Vice Chancellor, I cannot end this lecture by not acknowledging the role providence has placed on me, that of being John the Baptist, to prepare the academic way to deliver the First Inaugural Lecture of Veritas University, Abuja. In accepting that burden, I wish to conclude by speaking to the literacies for priests, prophets and professors as the Trinitarian mandate for academics and scholars in Veritas University in particular and my colleagues in the wider academic world. As baptized Christians, we share in the priestly role of Jesus Christ as the pastor of the body, mind and soul of those placed in our care. We also share in the prophetic mission of Christ as the bearer of Good News and as those who have been called upon to set captives free and to liberate those entrusted to our charge from ignorance and abuse. As professors, we have a sacred duty to advance knowledge in fidelity with the motto of Veritas University: “Seeking the Truth”. For me, the Truth is obvious as manifested in the life and message of our Saviour Jesus Christ. This triple heritage is what we are called upon by providence to discharge in Veritas University as teachers. We are called upon to be priests, prophets, and professors to all the students who encounter us in Veritas University. This is a sacred responsibility which sets us apart from other dispensers of knowledge, to other researchers in the knowledge industry, and to other persons who offer service to the community of God’s people. We are not just professors in Veritas University; we are priests and prophets as well. Grant us O Lord, the grace to nurture, motivate and inspire our students with the words we implant in their heads and hearts; to form them by our examples; to teach and transform them with the works of our hands, for indeed, we are truly priests, prophets, and professors serving humanity in Veritas University, Abuja.