The emphasis on adult education in Nigeria is designed to eliminate illiteracy and to ensure development of adult Nigerians by making education a lifelong process. This paper focuses on the concept of adult physical education to promote understanding, ramifications, and rationale for use in adult programs. (JOW)

Mass illiteracy is recognized by many Nigerians as a debilitating malady that must be addressed if the nation is to make developmental headway. The Mass Literacy Campaign, launched to attempt to reduce illiteracy, has not made a significant impact because of poor planning, poor funding, poor programs, and inadequate staff. (JOW)

The educational and linguistic rationales for designing an adult English-as-a-Second-Language literacy program based on phonics are discussed, with specific reference to an Ibibio adult literacy program in Nigeria. An introductory section gives an overview of Nigerian policy and practice concerning literacy education. Next, the phonics approach to…