ADULT EDUCATION

This study investigated the transformative role of adult education in promoting community development, specifically focusing on the host community of the University of Benin, Nigeria. Recognizing adult education as a crucial component of lifelong learning and a strategic driver for national transformation, the research aimed to determine how existing programs address pervasive challenges such as low literacy rates, high unemployment, skill deficits, and social exclusion in the community. The core purpose was to identify the types of adult education programs available, evaluate participants' perceptions of their impact on personal and collective development, assess their effectiveness in meeting economic, social, and political needs, and explore the challenges hindering successful implementation. Ultimately, the study sought to provide evidence- based recommendations to strengthen adult learning initiatives and foster sustainable development at the grassroots level. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design to gather facts and opinions from the population for generalization. The study area was delimited to selected neighborhoods surrounding the University of Benin, including Ugbowo, Ekosodin, Osasogie, and BDPA. Data was collected from one hundred and twenty (120) adults selected from ten communities in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State using a questionnaire as the primary research instrument. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, simple percentage, and mean scores, with a criterion mean score of 2.50 used as the selection benchmark. The findings indicated that the available adult education programs in the area include women education, population education, literacy, workers education, and vocational education, and that the community holds a positive attitude toward these programs. Crucially, the study concluded that adult education has significantly helped in community development by providing economic skills, improving participants' standard of living, enhancing reading abilities, and fostering cordial community relationships, with the extent of acquired skills contributing highly to poverty alleviation. The successful implementation of these programs, however, is often challenged by financial constraints, inadequate government support, and limited facilities. Therefore, recommendations often revolve around the need for increased government funding, better institutional collaboration (especially with the University of Benin), and addressing logistical barriers to ensure the programs are sustainable and relevant to evolving labor market needs.

This study determined the assessed the contribution of traditional institution to adult education in Orhionmwon local Government area of Edo State. Four research questions and one null hypotheses were raised to guide the study. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The population of study constitutes all the practitioners of traditional institutions in Orhionmwon Local Government area Benin City, Edo State. The study adopted the sample selected using a stratified and a simple random sampling technique to select a sample of 65 practitioners selected across the political wards that exist in Orhionmwon for the study. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled: Contributions of Traditional Institutions to Adult Education Questionnaire (CTIAEQ). It was however subjected to face validity by the researcher’s supervisor and one other expert in the Department of Adult and non-formal Education, Faculty of Education, University of Benin. The reliability was determined using the internal consistency method which was measured using Cronbach alpha statistic. The instrument was administered to business education students in University of Benin who are not part of the sample to be used for this study but are part of the population of the study. However, the instrument yielded an alpha value of 0.76. The data collected were analyzed using mean (x), standard deviation (SD), and two sample independent Fisher z using Statistical Packages for the Social Science (SPSS). The study found that in the first place people indicated that traditional institutions provided in the area include Benin, Iteskiri, Hausa, Igbo, Ora, Urhobo, Isoko, Esan, traditional institutions, the respondents were unanimous that these traditional institutions are the most prevalent of the line of authority provided in the area in promoting rural development and adult education programmes. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made: In the first place, it was found that the members of the traditional ruling council were fairly satisfied with the implementation of the programmes, efforts should be intensified to ensure the implementation of the adult education programmes by traditional institutions is carried out according to specifications and laid down guidelines amongst others.