ADULT EDUCATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION FOR ACCELERATED SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to establish Adult Education as an Alternative Option for Accelerated socio-economic development of Nigeria. Adult education helps people to understand their own realities. The goal of Adult education is to facilitate radical transformation of the social structure being a tool for emancipation, mobilization and sensitization to free the oppressed by awakening their critical consciousness. Adult education is a fundamental human right for the achievement of equality and inclusion, for alleviating poverty and for building equitable, tolerant, sustainable and knowledge-based societies stated by UNESCO in 2011. The reason of this paper is to x-rayed Adult education as a vital means to achieve social justice and educational equality while its contribution to economic and social development remains a vital crucial consideration for Nigeria development and peace building for humanity. The objectives of this paper are to develop the capacity of individuals to think critically and to act with autonomy and a sense of responsibility there by reinforcing the capacity to deal with and shape the development taking place in the economy and the world of work. Contribution to the creation of a learning society where every individual has an opportunity to learn and fully participate in sustainable development process and enhance solidarity of people and communities remains the justification of this paper. The greater purpose of this paper focuses on promoting peaceful coexistence and human rights to foster resilience in young and older adults to enhance awareness for socio-economic development and protection of the environment in Nigeria. This paper comprehensively discussed the meaning of socio-economic development, components of socio-economic development, state of socio-economic development and the challenges of socio economic development in Nigeria. Also brief description of adult education in terms of definitions, aims and objectives are stated and how adult education can help in addressing the challenges of socio-economic development in Nigeria. The paper recommended what the Nigerian government and the education planners need to do to be more involved in the promotion of adult education in Nigerian for socio-economic development achievement, and what the policy advocates, scholars, researchers and practitioners in adult education need to do to improve the technical expertise with knowledge – gained and demonstrate this to students for their improved academic performance in adult education courses for socio-economic development. Adult education as an alternative options for accelerated socio-economic development of Nigeria clearly indicates that adult education is linked with sustainable and equitable human development, job creation, income generation, democracy and the overall goals of the social development agenda. This is clearly noted from the potential contribution of adult education to the creation of an informed and tolerant citizenry, economic and social development, literacy promotion, poverty alleviation and the preservation of the environment for the interest of human existence which forms the conclusion of this paper.