INVOLVING ADULT EDUCATION IN THE STRUGGLE TOWARD ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study focused on the interventions of adult education programmes in the struggle towards achieving sustainable community development in present-day society. Man’s attempt to achieve sustainable development has been thwarted by existing difficulties in the environment. The study identified illiteracy, health challenge, food insecurity, biased cultural practices, inadequate research, political instability, economic meltdown, climate change, poor electricity and internet accessibility as the difficulties thwarting the attainment of sustainable community development practices in Nigeria. These difficulties gave rise to the struggle of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which translated to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to enhance man’s environs. The reasons for the struggle, the challenges encountered in the cause of the struggle and the active interventions of adult education programmes (environmental literacy, health literacy, financial literacy, consumer education, nutrition education, climate education, vocational education and training, digital literacy, and peace education) in helping man to attain his goals was conversed in this study. The study suggested that pragmatic policies aimed towards eradicating the identified difficulties and unsustainable practices should be effectively designed and implemented for the promotion of sustainable development. Furthermore, leaders at all sectors should be mandated to enroll in sustainable development training programmes for effective service delivery in their various fields and for the promotion of sustainable development goals.