Research/Report
Author(s): Ifedola Morayooluwa Owoeye, Georgia State University
There is a prevailing societal belief in Nigeria that adults like Rakiya are responsible for their lack of academic knowledge and are therefore often labeled as lazy, unmotivated, or disinterested in education, rather than recognizing the structural barriers that hindered their educational opportunities as children. Although the Nigerian government officially provides free primary education, there are additional costs such as textbooks, uniforms, Parent Teacher Association dues, and transportation, which make schooling inaccessible for low-income households. These financial barriers are a major reason many children from poor backgrounds in Nigeria never attend school. In addition, due to discouraging societal attitudes toward children who grow up to be adults without basic academic skills, people typically have no interest in joining adult literacy classes. In fact, most Nigerians (both educated and uneducated) do not view adult education as valuable.