Community Mobilisation Strategies for Adult Education Participation in Rural Northern Nigeria

This study examines community mobilisation strategies used to promote adult education participation in rural communities in northern Nigeria, assessing their effectiveness and identifying best practices. Community mobilisation, the process of engaging community stakeholders to generate awareness and participation in development programmes, is a critical precondition for adult education enrolment in communities where literacy is not perceived as a priority. This study uses a comparative case study design, examining mobilisation strategies in six adult education programmes operating in Katsina, Sokoto, and Yobe States, selected to represent varying levels of enrolment success. Data sources include interviews with 30 community mobilisers and programme managers, focus group discussions with 60 community members, and programme enrolment and attendance records. Thematic analysis and cross-case comparison are applied. Findings reveal that programmes using religious institution networks and traditional ruler endorsement as mobilisation channels achieve consistently higher enrolment rates than those relying on government announcements alone. Female mobilisers are significantly more effective at enrolling women and girls in communities with strong gender segregation norms. Demonstration of immediate livelihood benefits from literacy acquisition is the most persuasive mobilisation message. The study concludes that culturally embedded, relationship-based community mobilisation is the most effective strategy for adult education enrolment in rural northern Nigeria. It recommends that all adult education programmes allocate a minimum of 15 percent of programme budget to structured community mobilisation activities.

Keywords: community mobilisation, adult education participation, northern Nigeria, enrolment strategies, rural communities.