Mobile phone technology is planned to be used by the United Nations (UN) to help boost English literacy levels in Nigeria.

A subscription service, which is said to be targeted at tens of thousands of English teachers, is intended to use text messaging to broadcast content and messages with learning advice once a day.

The project is also expected to last 72 weeks from the time of subscription.

"Our aim from the beginning was to develop a service that teachers working in difficult conditions and without a great deal of support could access quickly," said Steven Vosloo, the project coordinator for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

"Mobile technology is a promising avenue and, in some instances, the only option in terms of technology," Vosloo added.

Mark West, a UNESCO project officer in Abuja added, "The rapid uptake of mobile technology in Africa has made it realistic to reach teachers who were, practically speaking, unreachable just a few years ago. It is exciting work, and we hope the project provides a model others borrow, emulate and improve upon."