Abstract
The study focused on issues relating to utilization of social media for adult
education in Enugu State. Specifically, it identified the ways social media
are being used in adult learning and the challenges encountered in the use
of social media in adult education. The study was a descriptive survey
research. The population was made up of 3,391 distance education learners
in the area of the study. A sample size of 358 was purposively selected for
the study. Data were collected through questionnaire. Data were analyzed
using mean and standard deviation. Major findings including 12 ways
social media are being used in adult education. Among these are M-
learning (X = 3.27), e-learning (X = 3.26), blended learning (X = 3.58),
distance learning (X = 3.61), micro blogging (X = 3.57), youtube (X = 3.37).
Others findings are 13 challenges encountered in the use of social media in
adult education. These include, high cost of materials (X = 3.61), resistance
to change by learners (X = 3.58), poor integration of ICT into the educational
structure (X = 3.37), learner’s lack of knowledge in the use of media (X =
3.23), illiteracy of facilitators in the use o ICT (X = 3.27), cost of internet
connection (X = 3.00), lack of access to devices (X = 3.23) and others. Based
on these findings, the study recommended that Government should
intensify effort in the provision of social media in adult education centres
since the cost of procuring them are high, facilitators should be encouraged
by the government on the need for professional development training
especially in terms of keeping abreast with ICT.