History of Adult education in Nigeria

 The history of adult education in Nigeria dates back to the colonial era when the British established schools for the purpose of educating the local population. Adult education was not given much attention during this period, as the focus was on primary and secondary education.

However, in the 1940s, the colonial government began to recognize the need for adult education in Nigeria, and the first adult education program was established in 1942 in Lagos. The program was aimed at providing basic literacy skills to adults who had missed out on formal education.

After Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the government began to take a more active role in adult education, and several programs were established to provide education and skills training for adults. In 1976, the National Council for Adult Education (NCAE) was established to coordinate adult education programs and promote literacy and skills development.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the government implemented several policies aimed at promoting adult education, including the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program, which provided free primary education for all children, and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), which was established in 1983 to provide higher education opportunities for adults.

Today, adult education in Nigeria encompasses a wide range of programs and initiatives, including formal and non-formal education, skills training, and vocational education. The government continues to play a major role in promoting adult education, and there are also many non-governmental organizations and community-based groups involved in adult education and literacy programs.