Is literacy key to community development?: analyzing two groups of adults' involvement in development projects in northern Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigates the influence of adult literacy on grassroots people’s involvement in community development (CD) projects in Nigeria. It examines the differences in the level of involvement in CD projects by participants and non-participants in adult literacy programs. Using multi-stage sampling, 408 respondents were interviewed to obtain information. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarize the data. Statistical analysis explains the variations in the mean values of the socio-economic variables and involvement in CD activities of the respondents who participated and those who never participated in adult literacy classes. Comparing participants’ income and political status before and after participation in literacy programmes, the analysis shows that at P ≤ 0.01 level of significance, there was a significant difference in their income (F = 11.26) and political status (F = 78.40). The paper suggests that participatory and learner-oriented literacy initiatives are necessary for a sustainable and functional adult literacy program.