CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF ADULT EDUCATION IN THE 5TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: LEVERAGING ON INCLUSIVENESS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Abstract
This paper on challenges and opportunities of adult education in the 5th Industrial Revolution (5IR): leveraging on inclusiveness and sustainable development in Nigeria has the following objectives: to find out challenges and opportunities in the 5IR and how inclusive adult education programmes and activities could improve and sustain development in Nigeria. The study employed a secondary source of methodology and contended that challenges and opportunities of adult education in the 5IR are inevitable, but if well managed, could enhance national sustainable development. Findings revealed that adult education in the 5IR is faced with such challenges as poor funding, inadequate facilitators or change agents, mismanagement and corruption, poor perception and awareness by the public, lack of supervision and monitoring among others while such opportunities like sustained lifelong education and learning, empowerment of citizens, employment, and skill acquisition could be achieved through inclusive adult education programmes and activities to enhance and improve national sustainable development in the country. It was discovered that inclusive adult education programmes could eliminate gender disparity, religious and cultural beliefs, and promote citizens’ participation and involvement for national development. Therefore, the study recommends, among others, that the government should initiate policies that can promote inclusive education and community engagement for enhanced sustainable development in the country.
