Ortese, Peter Terfa.Mayange, Levi Terzungwe2023-12-132023-12-132015-03-10CIA-The World faclbook (retrieved April, 2010) Farris. P.J, Fuhler, C.J. & Walther M.R (2004) Teaching Reading: A balanced approach for today's classrooms. Boston: McGrawHill. Federal Government of Nigeria (1989). National Policy on Education. Lagos: NERDC Igbuzor, O. (2006) State of Education in Nigeria. A key note address delivered at Civil society round table on Education, http://davvodu.com/igbuzorl4.htm Indabawa, S. A (1991). Themes in Adult and Non-Formal Education. Lagos: Text and Leisure Publishers. Jegede, C.I. (2002) Geographic Information System (GIS) and acquisition of Literacy in Nigeria. In Literacy and Reading in Nigeria9(2) Pp. 263-270. Living Libraries (retrieved April, 2010) Literacy www.s/.nsw.gov.au/services/public libraries/livinii learning libraries/glossary.html MAMSER (1991). Four Years of Social Mobilization. Abuja: Directorate of Social Mobilization. National Assessment of Adult Literacy - NAAL (retrieved April, 2010) Definition of Literacy. http://nccs.ed.gov/naal/fr_definilion.asp Omolara, O.O. (2002) Towards improved literacy of Nigerians through increase books published in the Nigerian Languages. In Literacy and Reading in Nigeria 9(2) Pp. 147-154. Ortese, P.T. (2005) CoR-T 1 and Mind-Prompt determinants of creativity performance among secondary school students in Makurdi, Benue State. Nigeria. A PhD Thesis submitted in the Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan. Osakwe, N.N (2002) Teaching reading in Schools: A Survey of English and Non-English Language Teacher's Attitude in Jos, Nigeria. In Literacy and reading in Nigeria. 9(2) Pp. 77-87.https://keffi.nsuk.edu.ng/handle/20.500.14448/4416This paper focused on the relevance of literacy in National development. It therefore xrayed the concept of literacy in terms of definition, and types. The history of literacy education in Nigeria was examined. The concept of national development and the relevance of literacy in national development were also examined. Findings reveal that at present literacy rate in Nigeria stands at 68% of the total population. A number of factors responsible for this decline are also examined and it offered prospects-way forward to enhance high literacy rate in Nigeria. The researchers counselled that literacy is a backbone of national development. As such both government and stakeholders must take mass literacy in Nigeria more serious if Nigeria must develop.enArticle