Reflection on the UNESCO Global Conference on Literacy 2025

Author: Taibat Hussain, PhD Researcher, School of Global Development, University of East Anglia

On September 8th - International Literacy Day 2025 - I had the honour of speaking at the UNESCO Global Conference on Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era, held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

In my intervention during the opening session, I reflected on how literacy shaped my own journey-from growing up in Nigeria, where girls’ education was often undervalued, to becoming a researcher and advocate today. Reading and writing are not merely tools for passing exams; they open a window to the world, fuelling imagination, enabling critical thought, and eventually becoming a bridge to digital exploration. Literacy made it possible for me to participate in global platforms, pursue higher education abroad, and shape a career dedicated to equity and inclusion.

A speaker at a podium with text about digital literacy: "Digital literacy does not begin with technology; it begins with the fundamentals of reading and writing. As we speak about promoting literacy in the digital era, our responsibility is clear: expanding access and promoting digital literacy for young people but not without strengthening the foundations of reading and writing that makes digital participation meaningful, safe and inclusive." Taibat Hussain, SDG4 Youth and Student Network member

Also, through my work with children and young people, I have seen how literacy fundamentally shapes their use of digital technology and vulnerabilities. Without basic literacy, how can someone recognise harm when they see it? How can they fully understand the terms to which they consent when they click “I agree”? Without strong foundations, children and young people remain vulnerable to exclusion, misinformation, and abuse in digital spaces. However, with these skills, they can engage critically and creatively, using digital tools safely and responsibly.

As I reminded participants in Paris: “Digital literacy does not begin with technology; it begins with the fundamentals of reading and writing.” It is this foundation that makes digital participation meaningful, safe, and inclusive.

The conference itself was a powerful space to take stock and commit to future action. A few themes stood out: that languages matter, that ambition must be matched by resources and political will, and that literacy is both a human right and a collective effort. There was a strong call for partnerships and financing to build stronger ecosystems and for technology to serve human development rather than profit.

For me, the takeaway is clear: promoting literacy in the digital era requires a dual commitment; we must strengthen the basics of reading and writing while expanding access to digital skills. Only then can we ensure that children, young people, and adults, especially the most marginalised, are equipped with the skills to survive and thrive in the digital age.

To read more about the International Literacy Day 2025 and its theme of digital literacy, see this short factsheet published by UNESCO.