9mobile promotes literacy through film

Nigeria’s telecommunications company, 9mobile, has produced a short film, aimed at fighting illiteracy.

Entitled ‘Closed’, the film which has been aired on DSTV, is, according to 9mobile Vice President Marketing, Adebisi Idowu, in furtherance of its commitment to promoting education and raising the level of literacy across the country.

The film tells the story of a young man – Juwon, an illiterate but skillful welder, who is cut off from the world around him and unable to appreciate a precious gift he holds just because he cannot read. But as the story unfolds, viewers step into his world, cheering him on as he overcomes the taunts of primary school pupils to learn the rudiments of the English language, until he eventually conquers this challenge in a dramatic way, and acquires the ability to read.

‘Closed’ which was premiered at the grand finale and award ceremony of the 2016 edition of the 9mobile Prize for Literature, points to the power of words and how they unlock meaning for people who can read.

Idowu said: “The film is produced as part of the footprint of its flagship pan-African literary prize and it seeks to raise awareness of illiteracy as a huge societal problem, as well as inspire collective positive action to stem it.  The production and airing of the short film also further affirms 9mobile’s unwavering commitment to innovation in solving social problems, one of which is low literacy as affirmed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which estimated that over 65 million people in Nigeria are illiterates.”

The film won four awards – three Gold and a Bronze – at the 12th Annual Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF) Awards held recently.