The purpose of this study was to provide an interpretive commentary of the first Mass Literacy Campaign in Nigeria from 1940-1952. The researcher traced earlier events and forces as they interacted to shape the Campaign. Within the context in which they occurred, five major areas were examined: (a) various influential forces: (b) social, economic and political factors; (c) educational process: (d) special adult population; and (5) curriculum content. This study contributes to increased understanding of internal and external factors that helped or hindered the creation and mass mobilization of the Campaign and could contribute to improved focus for the ongoing Mass Literacy Campaign in Nigeria, 1990-2000. Interpretive commentary involved telling a story through the eyes of actual participants in the events and through the eyes of the researcher. To establish factual narratives and reach defensible conclusions. the researcher collected, categorized, analyzed, synthesized and told a story in the context in which the event had occurred. Primary data included archival and other documentary materials from experts on issues germane to the Campaign. Secondary data included writings, primarily from African and British authors. Tertiary data involved the personal opinion of the researcher. The study concluded, for the most part, that limitations of prerequisites, hampered the propagation of some of the activities. Generally, the activities of the Campaign had more failures than successes in that the planning was not systematic and did not follow an analytical process similar to that of the 1970- 1979 National Literacy Campaign in Tanzania, suggested as a model for any developing nation (Unsicker in Arnove and Graff, 1987). The first Mass Literacy Campaign was not successful. Accurate survey research and findings which could have depicted a correct representation of the masses of illiterates in Nigeria and could have alleviated marginalization of the special adult population were not conducted. This study suggested that prerequisites could have been addressed prior to the inception of such a monumental venture. Furthermore, a study could be conducted to determine if specific inhibitors such as age, cultural inertia, lack of finance or motivation, linguistic barriers, prejudices and nomadism actually affected the proper mass mobilization of the Campaign. / Ed. D.