Science, environment and technical education for adult women: A means of poverty alleviation in an oil dependent economy

摘要

Developing countries always have large illiterate mass of women. This paper suggests that one means of development is to transform the mass of illiterate women to become literate productive citizens by teaching them science and simple technology. The government needs the political will to bring together the growing numbers of unemployed tertiary graduates to teach illiterate women science and simple technology to ensure both groups are engaged in eliminating the socio economic ills of underdevelopment, illiteracy, poverty and environmental degradation. NGOs and the industrial sector should become legal partners of government in this endeavour. Such a project will enable Nigeria to be self-sufficient in food production, empower women to participate in any planned activity, increase the literacy level of the country, and empower cadre of women who will help to educate the next generation. It is important to have women who can eliminate their poverty and change the environmental degradation resulting from oil extraction, cultural mores and the impact of industrialisation. If well undertaken, this project will reduce dependency on importation and save needed foreign exchange.