AFRICAN SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL

ROLE OF ADULT EDUCATION IN PROMOTING TRADE, INVESTMENT, AND INDUSTRIALIZATION FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

AMINA YUSUF ABDULLAHI
July 5, 2026

Abstract

Adult education has become increasingly important in promoting sustainable economic
development in Africa, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and
industrialization. This paper examines how adult education contributes to human
capital development by equipping adults with vocational, entrepreneurial, financial,
and digital skills needed for productive economic participation. Using a conceptual
approach based on relevant literature, the paper explains that adult education
strengthens trade through improved business, financial, and digital competencies;
promotes investment by enhancing entrepreneurial capacity and workforce quality;
and supports industrialization through technical and vocational skills development. The
paper also identifies major constraints affecting the effective use of adult education for
economic transformation, including inadequate funding, weak policy implementation,
poor access, and insufficient integration of market-relevant skills into adult learning
programmes. It concludes that strengthening adult education systems in Africa is
essential for improving productivity, attracting investment, supporting industrial
growth, and achieving sustainable economic development.

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AFRICAN SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL

Published in AFRICAN SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL

ISSN: 978-37889

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