International Literacy & Learning Award

Parliamentarians, representatives of the diplomatic community, educational leaders, publishers, colleagues from across Africa and the United Kingdom, and many longstanding friends of Universal Learning Solutions and Jolly Learning met at Stationers’ Hall on July 24. 

Liveryman Chris Jolly first introduced Jolly Phonics into government schools in Africa twenty years’ ago. During that time, few partnerships have been as enduring or as consequential as that with Kano State.

The International Literacy & Learning Leadership Award, presented jointly by Universal Learning Solutions and Jolly Learning, recognises exceptional public leadership in advancing children’s education.

Kano State has distinguished itself through a sustained commitment to educational reform and, in particular, through substantial investment in foundational literacy. 

The scale of that commitment has enabled one of Africa’s largest literacy programmes to flourish, bringing high-quality phonics instruction to hundreds of thousands of children and establishing Kano as a recognised leader in literacy reform.

We were especially honoured to welcome His Royal Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, who joined the event to receive this award on behalf of His Excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Governor of Kano State.

The success of this work reflects the determination of many people, but it also reflects the importance of political leadership. The contribution of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, whose Government has continued to place education among its highest priorities, was honoured with this award presented by the Upper Warden.

It is equally fitting that this presentation takes place in Stationers’ Hall. For more than six hundred years, the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers has promoted literacy, learning, publishing and the written word. There are few venues more appropriate in which to recognise outstanding leadership.