Kofi Atta Annan · "Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of pro..."

Message on the occasion of International Literacy Day, 2003 · Checked on 3 March 2026

Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.

Analysis

The quote appears verbatim in the **UNESCO 2003 International Literacy Day press release** (archived on the UN website) attributed to then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The phrasing reflects his long-standing emphasis on education as a catalyst for societal progress, a recurring theme in his speeches (e.g., 2001 Nobel Lecture, *Millennium Development Goals* reports). No credible sources dispute his authorship, and the message aligns with UN initiatives during his tenure (2001–2006).

Background

International Literacy Day (September 8) was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966 to highlight global literacy challenges. Kofi Annan, as UN Secretary-General, frequently tied education to broader goals like poverty reduction and gender equality, framing it as a 'premise of progress' in UN policy documents. His 2003 message was part of a campaign to accelerate the *Education for All* (EFA) initiative adopted in Dakar (2000).

Verdict summary

Kofi Annan did make this statement in his 2003 International Literacy Day message, and its core themes align with his documented advocacy for education and development.

Sources consulted

— UNESCO. (2003). *Message from Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the occasion of International Literacy Day*. [UN Archives](https://www.un.org/press/en/2003/sgsm8904.doc.htm) (Accessed via UN Digital Library).

— United Nations. (2001). *Nobel Lecture by Kofi Annan*: 'The Nobel Century' (December 10, 2001). [Nobel Prize Archive](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2001/annan/lecture/).

— UN Millennium Project. (2005). *Investing in Development: A Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals*. Chapter 3: 'Education for All' (pp. 45–47). [UNMP Report](http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/reports/fullreport.htm).