About RAN

The Reading Association of Nigeria (RAN) is an association of teachers and other education professionals in Nigeria committed to literacy empowerment across all social classes in Nigeria. RAN believes that literacy is not optional, but a basic human right, the essential ingredient for Nigeria’s drive to join the league of developed economies and enlightened democracies.

RAN works actively with policy makers in Federal, State and Local Governments, schools, parents, corporate bodies, United Nations agencies, donor institutions and non-governmental organizations to attain its goals. RAN is affiliated with the International Reading Association (IRA) with headquarters in Newark, Delaware, USA. It is also a leading member of the International Development Committee in Africa (IDC-A), a network of African reading associations promoted by IRA.

History

RAN was inaugurated in August 1982 after an international seminar on reading hosted by the Institute of Education of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. RAN, a non-governmental, non-profit making organization has, since 1982, organized conferences and workshops in various parts of Nigeria.

RAN has also collaborated with various bodies to promote literacy development in Nigeria. Some of such bodies include:

• Heinemann, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Commission, and the International Reading Association in publishing reading and instructional materials;
• The Plateau State Ministry of Education and the State Broadcasting Corporation in airing some of the scripts produced by RAN for Radio;
• Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC Nigeria), Shell South Africa and READ Educational Trust of South Africa in organizing Train – the – Trainer Workshops reaching out to some Primary Schools across Nigeria.
• UNICEF in organizing workshops on basic literacy acquisition skills for primary school teachers.

RAN has also actively participated in workshops organized by the Universal Basic Education Commission; has played an active role in the development of a National Library Blue Print for Nigerian Universal Basic Education schools as well as the recommendation of appropriate text-books for use in such schools.

Affiliation with the International Reading Association

The International Reading Association is a non-profit membership-based organization dedicated to the promotion of literacy worldwide. It has many affiliate bodies in America and many other countries of the world. RAN was affiliated to IRA in 1984.

The Association is guided by five goals: professional development, advocacy, partnerships, research database, and emerging global issues. Many RAN members have benefited immensely from the IRA professional development programs