Continuing Education Needs of Retired Workers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

This study assessed the continuing education needs of retired workers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South South Nigeria. As life expectancy increases and retirement extends to two or more decades, the educational and developmental needs of retirees are gaining increasing attention in lifelong learning policy discourse. The study employed a descriptive survey design engaging 140 retired civil servants, oil company workers, and teachers drawn from three residential zones in Port Harcourt. Questionnaires and interview guides formed the primary data collection instruments. Findings indicated that retirees expressed strong interest in continuing education opportunities focused on health and wellness management, digital literacy, legal and financial literacy, creative arts, and religious study. Most participants reported that existing adult education programmes in the city were insufficiently tailored to the interests and life circumstances of older adults, with curricula that were either too basic or misaligned with retirees' professional experience levels. Social connection and mental stimulation were identified as powerful motivating factors for continuing education participation, beyond purely functional skill acquisition. The study found that programmes hosted within retirees' associations and faith communities attracted higher participation than those offered through formal education centres. Recommendations include developing a dedicated retirees' continuing education programme for Port Harcourt, designing modular curricula covering health literacy, digital skills, and personal finance, and partnering with retirees' associations to co-design contextually relevant learning content. Keywords: continuing education, retired workers, older adults, Port Harcourt, lifelong learning.