Influence of Adult Literacy Education on Socio-Economic Empowerment of Rural Women in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

In all countries of the world, education is recognised as the cornerstone for sustainable development particularly for those who have been excluded from  formal system of education and development. The building of a literate society will lead to the economic empowerment and will encourage rural  women to practice hygiene, which will in turn lead to the reduction of birth and death rates. A descriptive survey research design was adopted using  questionnaire as the main instrument. Some 203 respondents which comprised eight literacy facilitators and 195 rural women participated in the literacy  programme. Data collected were analysed using mean, standard deviation and correlation coefficient, used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of  significant. The findings indicated that significant relationship existed between adult literacy education and women participation in politics r = 0.148, Df = 201, P < 0.05. The result revealed that significant relationship existed between adult literacy education and healthy living of rural women, r = 0.052, Df =  201, P < 0.05.The study recommended that government at all levels should fund literacy programmes, make it interesting for women to be encouraged to  enrol in literacy classes.