The paper examined the place of Distance Education (DE) as a method of Adult Education in
Nigeria and its contribution to national development. The paper discussed DE practice and
challenges in some African countries and related this to the Nigerian situation. The paper
further noted the challenge of the national admission body for regular tertiary institutions with
reconciling the ratio of applicants to those admitted. Incidentally, DE, which is originally a form
of Adult Education, is fast becoming a replacement for regular higher education. The implication
of this on Adult Education practice in Nigeria is that the changes in the demographics of
participants in DE, along with other challenges, affect the essence of Adult Education provision,
access and its conduct. The paper analyzed the concept of DE and noted that distance education
is currently used to replace, instead of support mainstream education in Nigeria by eroding the
more desirable non-formal approach. The paper agrees that DE can be used as a tool, per
excellence, for human and national development, if practiced in its proper context, and attracts
the desired target candidates. Several suggestions were proffered for better conduct of DE,
including the use of awareness campaigns to attract the right candidates into DE programs as
well as better provision of access to regular education for the youth to stem their influx into DE.
The discourse has great implications for lifelong learning, access, national development and adult
education practice in Nigeria and globally.