By: Theresa Donatus, Uyo.
The 2025 World Literacy Day celebration held at the Lifelong Development Academy, Uyo, has reaffirmed Akwa Ibom State’s position as Nigeria’s pioneer in literacy innovation through the Jolly Phonics teaching method.
The event, themed “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era,” brought together education stakeholders, government officials, teachers, pupils, and development partners to celebrate two decades of remarkable progress in foundational literacy across the state.
In her welcome address, Prof. Comfort M. Ekpo, Academic Team Leader and Grand Patron of Jolly Phonics Nigeria, expressed delight at the success story of Jolly Phonics in Akwa Ibom. She noted that the state remains the cradle of the literacy approach in Nigeria, having nurtured it from a modest beginning in 2006 into a national model now embedded in the basic education curriculum.
“Jolly Phonics was planted like a mustard seed in 2006, but today, it has grown into a large tree with branches across Nigeria and other African countries,” Prof. Ekpo said.
She commended the Ministry of Education, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and Universal Learning Solutions (ULS) for their unwavering collaboration and called on teachers to continue fostering literacy even in environments with limited digital resources.
Speaking on “Celebrating the Success of Jolly Phonics in Akwa Ibom State,” Mrs. Naomi Foxcroft, Executive Director of Universal Learning Solutions, represented by Prof. Thelma Ekukinam, traced the project’s roots to 2005, when Noami’s husband, Gary Foxcroft, first visited Eket and was inspired by local educators’ passion for learning.
The Foxcrofts later established Stepping Stones Model School in Esit Eket, where Jolly Phonics was first introduced. The school’s success led to a pilot study in six government schools under the supervision of the University of Uyo and SUBEB. The study revealed that pupils taught with Jolly Phonics were up to 29 months ahead in reading compared to peers taught using traditional methods.
The Akwa Ibom State Government subsequently adopted Jolly Phonics across all public schools in 2010, supported by the donation of 166,000 literacy books and teacher training programmes.
Since then, over 8,500 early-grade teachers have been trained and mentored, with consistent improvements in pupils’ reading performance. Data from recent phonics screening tests show Akwa Ibom’s Primary 2 reading levels rising from 30th position in 2022 to 13th in 2025, now above the national average.
Foxcroft praised the state for sustaining the initiative through continuous innovation, including the introduction of Jolly Grammar and Jolly Talk for upper primary and spoken English proficiency.
In a goodwill message, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Anietie Etuk, Executive Chairman of SUBEB, commended the collaborative efforts of Universal Learning Solutions, the Ministry of Education, and Lifelong Development Academy in advancing literacy and improving learning outcomes across Akwa Ibom schools.
Similarly, Jolly Michael Edem Udo, speaking on behalf of the Jolly Phonics Teacher-Leaders Forum, lauded the inclusion of spelling bees and literacy contests in the celebration, noting that such activities foster creativity, confidence, and lifelong learning among pupils.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Mrs. Naomi Foxcroft extended appreciation to all partners and educators who have contributed to the project’s success, particularly Prof. Comfort Ekpo and the University of Uyo academic team.
“You have stayed faithful to the method, understanding that by teaching Jolly Phonics daily and making learning fun, pupils learn to read and write with joy,” she said.
The event featured literacy exhibitions, cultural displays, and student performances that demonstrated the lasting impact of the Jolly Phonics approach on reading and writing proficiency in Akwa Ibom schools.
High point of the event were the exhibition by stepping stones Model school, Esit Eket, Goodnews Community Nursery and Primary school and st. Luke’s Primary school, Obiokpok, Nsit Ibom LGA, spelling and quiz competition and Jolly Teachers exhibition etc.
With Akwa Ibom now serving as Nigeria’s literacy model, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that every child in the state, regardless of background, can read, write, and thrive in an evolving digital world.