Lagos Takes Digital Leap in Adult Education for Lifelong Learning

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Tertiary Education's Agency for Mass Education, has successfully launched a pivotal capacity-building programme designed to transition adult education into the digital era. The initiative, themed “Empowering Lifelong Learning: Innovative Strategies for Adult Learning Facilitation,” brought together facilitators from across the state to equip them with modern, technology-driven methods essential for effectively combating illiteracy. The programme highlights the state’s recognition of the critical role digital literacy plays in expanding lifelong learning opportunities for its vast population, aligning education with rapidly evolving global trends.

Mrs. Oluwakemi Kalesanwo, Director of the Agency for Mass Education, spearheaded the event, underscoring the agency’s unwavering commitment to the eradication of adult illiteracy within Lagos State. She passionately articulated the necessity for facilitators to not only embrace but master digital tools and contemporary teaching methodologies. This shift is crucial to ensure that the education delivered is both impactful and relevant to the demands of the modern, technology-centric world, thereby positioning adult learners for success in a digitally focused economy.

​The Ministry of Tertiary Education and its Parastatals Monitoring Board commended the agency’s forward-thinking approach. Dr. Olugbenga Ayoola, Permanent Secretary of the Board, praised the programme as a timely and welcome step toward achieving the state’s broader vision of cultivating an educated and empowered citizenry. The Permanent Secretary’s representative, Mrs. Oparinde Adenike, specifically lauded the Agency for Mass Education’s dedication, discipline, and proactive strategy in championing adult literacy reforms across the state.

​The academic session was enriched by insights from leading educators, beginning with Dr. Luqman Hussein, an Associate Professor at Lagos State University of Education. His presentation, “Modernising Adult Education: Innovative Teaching Methods and Digital Literacy Integration,” provided a roadmap for the future of the sector, advocating for flexible, technology-enhanced, and learner-centred models. This was complemented by a deep dive into pedagogy from Mrs. Jola Okebiorun, an Associate Professor at the University of Lagos, who stressed the necessity of tailoring teaching approaches to meet adult learners' unique needs, motivations, and invaluable life experiences.

The partnership is already moving from rhetoric to action, as confirmed by Governor Sanwo-Olu. The Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperative, Trade, and Industry is currently engaging directly with its Russian counterparts, with ongoing discussions related to the Lekki Free Trade Zone. This proactive engagement reflects the Lagos State Government's confidence in forming productive partnerships and its openness to serious negotiations, ultimately aiming to leverage international cooperation for economic growth, infrastructural development, and technological advancement in the state