Adult Education Programmes as Strategic Tools for Preventing Gender-Based Violence and Early Marriage in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State
Abstract
Gender-based violence (GBV) and early marriage remain persistent threats to the rights, dignity, and socio-economic well-being of women and girls in the Port Harcourt Metropolis of Rivers State. Despite the domestication of legal reforms like the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) Act, these challenges continue due to entrenched cultural norms, poverty, and low literacy levels. This paper examines the role of adult education programmes, specifically functional literacy, human rights education, and community mobilization as strategic tools for addressing these underlying drivers. Findings indicate that adult education significantly improves legal awareness, strengthens women’s economic empowerment, and enhances reporting behavior by breaking the "culture of silence". Specifically, functional literacy integrated with vocational skills provides women with the economic independence necessary to resist financial exploitation and early marriage. Furthermore, educational workshops that engage community gatekeepers help redefine toxic masculinity and challenge harmful traditional practices. The paper concludes that adult education is a powerful mechanism for social transformation, creating informed communities capable of resisting violence and protecting vulnerable girls. To maximize the impact of adult education as a preventive tool in Port Harcourt Metropolis, it was suggested among others that there should be an Implementation of rigorous Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) mechanisms to track the effectiveness of these programmes in reducing GBV rates and increasing school retention for adolescent girls
Keywords
Adult Education, Programmes, Gender-based Violence, Early Marriage
Citations
IRE Journals:
Wami, Kevin Chinweikpe Ph.D "Adult Education Programmes as Strategic Tools for Preventing Gender-Based Violence and Early Marriage in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 9 2026 Page 1665-1674 https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I9-1715291
IEEE:
Wami, Kevin Chinweikpe Ph.D
"Adult Education Programmes as Strategic Tools for Preventing Gender-Based Violence and Early Marriage in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(9) https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I9-1715291
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