The Influence of Adult Education on Household Decision-Making Among Women in Niger State

This study examines the influence of adult education on household decision-making agency among women in Niger State, North Central Nigeria. Women's participation in household decisions related to finance, health, children's education, and family planning is a key dimension of gender empowerment that is theorised to improve with education level. In Niger State, where patriarchal norms strongly shape household power dynamics, the question of whether adult education shifts women's decision-making roles is particularly important. This study uses a descriptive survey design, collecting data from 230 women in Minna, Bida, and Kontagora local government areas with varying adult education exposure. Household decision-making agency is assessed using a validated women's empowerment in agriculture index adapted for the Niger State context. Regression analysis controls for age, marital status, household income, and husband's education. Findings reveal that adult education participation is significantly and positively associated with women's household decision-making agency, particularly in financial management and children's education decisions. Women who completed adult education programmes with empowerment content show the largest decision-making improvements. The relationship is moderated by spousal educational level, with higher-educated husbands associated with more equitable decision-making regardless of wife's education level. The study concludes that adult education meaningfully improves women's household agency in Niger State. It recommends that adult education programmes for women include spousal engagement components to address household-level barriers to women's empowerment.

Keywords: household decision-making, adult education, women empowerment, Niger State, gender equality.