STRATEGIES FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN NIGERIA THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF ADULT LITERACY SKILLS AMONG RURAL WOMEN

Abstract

Women in Nigeria and in other parts of Africa and Asia have long suffered all forms of deprivation resulting from cultural and religious ambiguities which is peculiar to the countries within these regions. However, unlike in countries like Saudi Arabia where women’s (educated and uneducated) are deprived of the right to drive a car, the problem of women emancipation in Nigeria and other countries in Africa is hindered by the lack of basic literacy among women. The worst hit by the scurge of illiteracy are women in the rural areas of Nigeria. In most cases, these women do not have access to education as a result of poverty and inaccessibilty to schools which are in most cases located in the urban areas. The authors are of the opinion that lack of adult literacy has led to increase in the scurge of HIV/AIDS, vulnerability to exploitation and manipulation, lack of self esteem and poverty among women. It is believed that through the acquisition of adult literacy skills women in rural communities would have better self respect/esteem, economic empowerment, improved standard of living, increased social interaction, involvement in politics, solving problem related to women and community, improved decision- making capacity in family and community. However, it appears that the value of literacy among the citizens in general and women in particular has not been given the adequate attention it deserves. It is against this background that the authors recommend the adoption of strategies that are devoid of political hijack. Such strategies include the improvement of budget for adult literacy at all levels of government in Nigeria. It is also recommended that there should be increased collaboration between administrators of adult literacy programmes and private organizations in the area of funding, provision of teaching and learning materials for adult literacy centres.