Training Needs of Adult Education Facilitators in Nasarawa State

This study assessed the training needs of adult education facilitators in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. The effectiveness of adult education programmes is strongly dependent on the professional capacities of frontline facilitators, yet structured training needs assessments for this cadre in Nasarawa remain absent from the literature. The study adopted a descriptive survey design involving 90 facilitators drawn from adult literacy and continuing education programme sites across four local government areas. A training needs assessment questionnaire and focus group discussions were used for data collection. Findings revealed significant competency gaps in areas including adult learning facilitation techniques, contextualised curriculum development, learner assessment strategies, and the use of participatory instructional methodologies. Many facilitators reported having learned their craft primarily through self-directed trial and error rather than formal professional preparation. Technical skills in numeracy instruction were particularly underdeveloped across the sampled facilitator cadre. Facilitators expressed strong desire for practical in-service training and peer mentoring programmes rather than purely lecture-based theoretical courses. The study noted that proximity to Abuja had generated some demand for digital literacy training among facilitators, reflecting awareness of emerging educational technology applications. Recommendations include the Nasarawa State Adult and Non-Formal Education Board developing a competency-based facilitator training framework, partnering with the University of Abuja and Nasarawa State University to deliver accredited short courses, and establishing a facilitator supervision and coaching system to sustain training investments. Keywords: training needs, adult education facilitators, competency development, Nasarawa State, professional development.