Adult Literacy Programme Participation and Economic Empowerment Among Rural Women in Anambra State

This study examined the relationship between adult literacy programme participation and economic empowerment among rural women in Anambra State, South East Nigeria. Despite sustained government investment in literacy initiatives, a significant proportion of rural women in the region remain economically marginalised, raising questions about programme effectiveness and relevance. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, drawing on a sample of 200 women enrolled in state-sponsored literacy centres across four local government areas. A structured questionnaire and focus group discussions served as primary data collection instruments. Findings revealed that women who completed at least one cycle of the literacy programme demonstrated measurable improvements in income-generating activities, financial decision-making, and market participation. However, irregular attendance driven by domestic responsibilities, transportation barriers, and inadequate instructional materials significantly limited programme outcomes for a sizeable proportion of participants. The study also found that programmes incorporating vocational skills components produced stronger economic outcomes than purely literacy-focused models. Recommendations include integrating micro-enterprise training into existing literacy curricula, establishing mobile literacy units to reach geographically isolated communities, and strengthening community awareness campaigns targeting husbands and in-laws whose attitudes directly influence women's participation. This research contributes to ongoing policy debates on functional adult literacy in Nigeria and underscores the need for context-sensitive programme designs that align learning objectives with participants' livelihoods. Keywords: adult literacy, economic empowerment, rural women, programme participation, Anambra State.