Literacy is the ability to read and write. In Nigeria, to a large extent, we have done well as far as our literacy level is concerned. We now have, quite a high number of people who can read and write. And a lot of us have gone through various educational systems to perfect our reading and writing skills – I guess our comprehension skill too. Being literate is a powerful tool – it can make or mar anyone. That is why one must be careful of what one reads, because what we read are directly fed into our minds. The essence of reading is to be educated. Education could be formal or informal. It could be organised or unorganised.

Many of us have also been through the process of administering and acquiring all forms of formal or informal training, in whatever field. Be it through apprenticeship of a craft or trade, or through schooling (primary, secondary, technical school, polytechnic or university) or through our experiences in life. It means we have been fairly educated. However, to be thoroughly educated, one must read wide – read subjects that are not even primarily linked to our core area of studies.

As an example, if you are a scientist or an engineer, you should pick interest in reading materials, news items, and journals from social sciences or medical sciences and so on. Or as a Christian, don’t be afraid to research into the fundamental principle of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and so on; and vice versa. This kind of attitude gives you an understanding of other people’s world-view and you are better positioned to relate with them respectfully. In my opinion, the level of information – on multifarious subjects – a man/woman has ingested is the mark of his/her level of education.

Access to information has never been this easy in the history of human race. The proliferation of knowledge in the cyberspace is huge, likewise that of distraction. There are materials online – in e-books, journals, audios and videos (interviews and lectures) – to acquire knowledge from. Howbeit, one must be very careful of the credibility, background and the agenda the sources of materials online. But if one sieves carefully and do due diligence, one can get good information from the internet.

Our literacy and education should lead us to intellectualism and enlightenment, and that is where this discussion is headed. Intellectualism is the “exercise or application of the intellect (ability to learn and reason).” In simple words, it is the objective application of knowledge. That is, the deployment what we have learnt through education, based on facts and reality, “especially with disregards to emotions.” It is a way of life that places reason over emotion; that queries the why, when, what and how of events and situations. It makes us discover ourselves – character, strength and value.

But today, we are mostly quasi-intellectuals. That is why we don’t ask questions from self, from our leaders (political and religious), from the elderly ones in our societies, from our parents and even from friends. When I say questions, I mean constructive and genuine questions to seek understanding into events and actions and others’ positions. Because we are quasi-intellectuals is why we assume and pre-empt the other person. It is why we draw conclusions from innuendos, suspicions and unfounded allegations. It is why we distort facts and history for our selfish gains. It is why we argue blindly and/or with ego. Even when facts are presented, we find holes in them and twist their meanings. It is why we act ignorantly. It is why we are not civil. Because we are quasi-intellectuals is why we criticise without proffering alternative but superior methods of doing things. It is why we are not guarded and considerate.

Intellectualism should reinforce our beliefs and value system. It should also give people a glimpse into our minds. It abhors hypocrisy, bigotry and superiorism. It encourages fair hearing and willingness to understand others’ views on issues, even when we don’t agree with their positions or reasoning. It leads to open-mindedness. Intellectualism encourages healthy debate and genuine communication between us and others. It proffers solutions to problems rather than whinge about them. It works towards improving the present order of things and events by genuinely querying the status quo.

Embracing intellectualism gives meaning to our lives and existence, and leads to enlightenment. Enlightenment is the ultimate goal. It leads to self-awareness. It doesn’t accommodate inferiority complex, envy and hatred. It makes us identify our purpose on earth and breathes “life” in us. It makes us humane. It makes us identify our Creator and find the best way to serve Him, and subsequently leading to peace from within – and this is the ultimate gift of life.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON: http://jidezubair./2014/11/17/of-literacy-education-intellectualism-and-enlightenment/
DATE: 17/11/2014