GENDER DIGITAL DIVIDE IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES: ADVANCING ADULT EDUCATION FOR THE NIGERIAN WOMAN SITUATION

Abstract

All over the world, the inclusion of women at all levels of governance to promote sustainable development has become crucial and a global concern. Hence, bridging gaps, breaking barriers and promoting equality have become significant areas of study. Gender digital gap and the feminization of poverty reinforce inequality and are evident in developing countries and economies such as Nigeria. Adult functional literacy programme have been regarded as instrumental in the provision of basic skills required to function effectively in these respects in our societies. This paper therefore looks at gender digital gap in recourse to digital technologies and access to digital devices strongly reflecting the Nigerian situation. It analyses poverty and its implications on women’s dis-empowerment; and justifies the potential of adult education through skill acquisition and literacy programmes in bridging the gender digital gap and facilitating women’s economic empowerment. Suggestions that engenders the exploration of adult education programmes like functional digital literacy, vocational skill acquisition and the potential power intentional community engagement wields in facilitating women education towards economic empowerment and reducing the existing gap were made.