The paper reports the outcome of a funded non-formal, functional adult literacy project embarked upon in the university-based "Isoya" rural development programme area in south-western Nigeria from 2005-2007. It specifically presents the approaches used in legitimising the literacy project amongst community people; and reports the positive impact of the project on community empowerment. A case study design was used to carry out the study amongst adult literacy class participants. It was found that the average income of learners per month in Nigerian Naira (NGN) at the commencement of the adult class increased from NGN 39,083.33 (approximately US$ 253.71) to NGN 54,409.09 (approximately US$ 353.19) after the first phase of the project. Also, participant learners realised that they had acquired basic reading and writing skills and have, thus, acquired self-esteem in addition to experiencing some socio-economic progress as well as the ability to better understand their ecological environment. Well over 88.0% of the adult learners perceived that they became more politically conscious as a result of the adult class they attended. (Contains 3 notes, 2 tables, and 4 figures.)