In 1946 Brother Brown estimated that, of the 23 million inhabitants of Nigeria, barely one million could read and write, and that only 2 percent of the people in the North were literate.

Although a greater proportion of Jehovah’s Witnesses were able to read, many were illiterate. They had learned the truth of God’s Word solely by hearing it preached. To share most effectively in the ministry, they needed to learn to read. In October 1949 literacy classes were started in each congregation, using manuals that were prepared locally by the Society. This literacy campaign continues to this day.

AU REVOIR, “BIBLE” BROWN

After 27 years of service in West Africa, Brother Brown and his family left Nigeria on April 4, 1950, for the West Indies. This was considered newsworthy by a member of the Legislative Council who was also editor of the Daily Times. He published an article captioned “‘BIBLE BROWN’ SAYS AU REVOIR, NOT GOOD-BYE,” in which he said: “Today ‘Bible’ Brown has become an institution and is the friend of all, young and old, European, African and Lebanese, even by those who disagreed with him and hated his religious propaganda. . . . Lagos will miss the familiar figure of ‘Bible’ Brown, and all his friends will wish him and Mrs. Brown good luck in their home in the Caribbean Isles.” Ten years later, in connection with Nigeria’s independence celebrations, the governor-general, who well remembered the good work done by “Bible” Brown, invited them to return to Nigeria for a visit as guests of the government.

In their farewell letter to Brother Brown in 1950 the brothers said, that “‘one man has become thousands’ is not idle talk.” Yes, the number of Kingdom publishers in Nigeria had grown to 8,370.