Adult Education and Political Awareness Among Market Traders in Onitsha, Anambra State

This study examines the relationship between adult education participation and political awareness among market traders in Onitsha, Anambra State, South East Nigeria. Political awareness, encompassing understanding of governance structures, rights, and electoral processes, is fundamental to meaningful democratic participation. Market traders, as a large informal sector group with variable education levels, represent an important population for assessing how adult education shapes political consciousness. This study uses a descriptive survey design, collecting data from 210 market traders in Onitsha Main Market and Bridge Head Market with varying adult education histories. Political awareness is assessed through a structured instrument covering governance knowledge, electoral rights, accountability mechanisms, and civic duty orientation. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis are applied. Findings reveal a significant positive relationship between adult education level and political awareness scores. Traders who participated in civic education modules within adult education programmes show the strongest political knowledge gains. Voting participation rates are significantly higher among adult education completers compared to non-participants. However, political cynicism, measured by distrust of electoral processes, does not significantly decrease with education level alone. The study concludes that adult education, particularly when inclusive of civic literacy content, meaningfully improves political awareness among Onitsha market traders. It recommends that the Anambra State Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education systematically incorporate voter education and governance literacy into market trader adult education programming.

Keywords: adult education, political awareness, market traders, Onitsha, civic literacy.