Strategies for Promoting Democracy and Good Governance through Adult Literacy Programmes in Nigeria

Abstract

The Nigerian society is characterized by dilapidated infrastructure, mass poverty, unemployment, decreasing standard of living, socioeconomic inequality, and insecurity, among others. To improve the system requires the active participation of all, especially the adult population. The active participation of people _in governance is premised on the literacy level of the people. Where people are largely illiterate, they are inactive participants in the democratic processes of their community. Thus, the impact of adult literacy on political empowerment cannot be overemphasized. It is against this background ~at this paper explores various adult literacy programmes as strategies for engendering ideal democratic structures and good governance in Nigeria. It concluded that adult literacy programmes (literacy for conscientization, as well as civic, budget and leadership literacy) can be used to install ideal democracy and good governance in Nigeria.