Assessing the Role of the Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education in Promoting Literacy Programmes in Oyo State, Nigeria

This study assessed the role of the Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education (AANFE) in promoting literacy programmes in Oyo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A sample of 300 respondents (200 adult learners, 70 literacy facilitators, and 30 Agency officials) was drawn from five local government areas of Oyo State using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured, validated questionnaire based on a four-point Likert scale, and analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean scores, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Findings showed that respondents affirmed the Agency's strategies for literacy promotion (grand mean = 2.65), rated accessibility of programmes as moderate (grand mean = 2.54), strongly affirmed the challenges confronting the Agency (grand mean = 3.14), and strongly endorsed proposed measures for improvement (grand mean = 3.15). The test of hypothesis revealed a statistically significant, strong positive relationship between the strategies employed by the Agency and the perceived level of literacy promotion in Oyo State (r = 0.755, N = 300, p < .001); the null hypothesis was therefore rejected. The study concludes that while the Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education plays a significant role in literacy promotion in Oyo State, its effectiveness is constrained by inadequate funding, insufficient instructional materials, poor facilitator remuneration, and weak monitoring and evaluation. It is recommended that government increase budgetary allocation to the Agency, strengthen public-private partnerships, improve facilitator welfare, and institute regular monitoring and evaluation of literacy programmes.

Adult Education, Non-Formal Education, Literacy Programmes, Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education, Oyo State

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