THE ROLE OF ADULT EDUCATION IN ACHIEVING SOCIAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper surveyed the role of adult education including social-economic development in Nigeria. It started with an introduction which gave some analysis of education and adult education. It went further to give a literature review of what education and adult education can offer in a nation. It also gave some conceptual clarifications of adult education, education and social-economic development as a survey of key concepts that have direct bearing on this study. The role of adult education in achieving social-economic development was discussed in detail. Objectives and strategies of adult education policy was highlighted. Policy strategies in adult education was also highlighted. Implementation policy was also discussed in brief. Conclusion was inferred. Recommendations were given which included that government at all levels – federal, state and local, must adequately motivate adult learners for effective learning because adult education is a tool that frees people from poverty ridden situations and it is a tool through which individuals and nations rise above their challenges. Governments and all stakeholders should incorporate adult education in their programmes since adult education is not only concerned with preparing people for life but rather with assisting adults to live more successfully as useful and acceptable members of their societies and who are able to contribute meaningfully to the development of the immediate society and the world at large. Governments, facilitators and individual adult learners should try as much as possible to remove obstacles to effective adult learning so that they might be more functional in their everyday activities and vital contributions to personal, societal, national and world development.