FUNCTIONAL LITERACY OF WOMEN AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria, despite all the resources and opportunities available, still lacks sustainable economic development. It is discovered that overdependence of the female folk coupled with the neglect of women in terms of empowerment and functional education can be considered an economic omission for the nation. Indeed, there is a growing awareness of the restrictive traditional role ascribed to the women folk, in spite of their high population and socio-economic relevance. This paper therefore attempts to establish the prospects of exposing the women to functional literacy education which will not only equip them with skills and knowledge in the chosen occupations but also make them relevant and major contributors to the sustainability of Nigeria’s development. Relevant literature on major concepts of sustainable development, functional literacy and women education were reviewed as a basis of discussing the attributes of women empowerment, roles of women in the nation’s development and a gender theory that serves as guide to their right and privileges. Possible forms of functional literacy education such as basic mass literacy programmes for women, seasonal educational education, Agriculture, weaving technology, among others, are discussed. It then concludes with the recommendation that government should set aside a reasonable percentage of political positions for women as motivation.