By Rareview Energydesk
Heirs Energies Limited has marked the 2026 International Literacy Day, celebrated globally on September 8, by highlighting the progress recorded through its investment in foundational and digital literacy among pupils in its host communities in Rivers State.
The company said its education interventions are designed not only to improve access to learning for young Nigerians but also to strengthen the capacity of teachers responsible for delivering it.
In a statement titled “International Literacy Day: From Access to Opportunity,” the company’s Assistant Vice President, External Relations and Corporate Communications, Chidimma Ugbojiaku, said Heirs Energies was proud to share the measurable impact of its investment in foundational learning as the world marked the day under the theme, “Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity.”
As part of the initiative, Heirs Energies partnered with the World Literacy Foundation in September2025 to launch the Sun Books Digital Literacy Initiative in two public primary schools in its host communities in Rivers State.
After nine months of structured implementation, the initiative has reached more than 500 learners and trained 27 teachers in literacy instruction, classroom management and assessment, according to the company.
It has also expanded access to offline-first, curriculum-aligned digital learning and established solar-powered learning infrastructure designed to provide pupils with continued access to educational resources.
The company said the impact was particularly evident in pupils’ literacy performance.
At the beginning of the programme, fewer than half of the assessed pupils achieved the minimum literacy benchmark. Following the intervention, the proportion increased to 87 per cent at Central State Primary School, Igwuruta, and 86 per cent at State Primary School, Umuebulu.
Heirs Energies said the results demonstrated the potential of combining technology, teacher development and sustainable infrastructure in addressing foundational learning challenges.
The company’s intervention also highlights an increasingly important dimension of education investment in Nigeria. While providing learning materials and infrastructure can improve access, sustained progress depends heavily on the capacity of teachers to use those resources effectively.
Training 27 teachers alongside providing digital learning tools therefore gives the programme a broader significance, particularly in public schools where gaps in teaching resources and infrastructure can constrain learning outcomes.
For Nigeria, where foundational literacy remains central to the country’s wider human-capital challenge, interventions that combine access, technology, teacher capacity and reliable infrastructure are likely to be more sustainable than programmes focused on any one of these areas in isolation.
Heirs Energies said it remained committed to initiatives that expand access to quality education, strengthen its host communities and equip young Nigerians with the knowledge and confidence required to contribute to Africa’s future.
The company’s message on International Literacy Day was succinct: “Literacy for people. Literacy for the planet. Literacy for prosperity.”