Literacy is an indispensable foundation that enables young people and adults to engage in learning opportunities at all stages of the learning continuum. Literacy is a prerequisite for the development of personal, social, economic and political empowerment. In Nigeria, attempt to increase access to literacy education for the enhancement of learners' daily living include establishing State Agencies for Adult and Non-Formal Education. For the dearth of empirical studies, the study examined the influence of demographic factors on access to basic literacy education as an indicator for participation for life-improvement skills of rural adult learners in Oyo and Ondo states. Survey research design of "ex-post facto" type was adopted and 1,310 adult learners (Oyo: 579, Ondo: 731) were selected through stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Four research questions complimented with Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) were answered. Literacy Access Questionnaire (r = 0.81) was used to gather information while data were analysed using percentage and context analysis. Findings showed that access was expanded by annual average of 15.04% and 35.07% in Oyo and Ondo states respectively. Significant differences existed in the access to literacy programmes from the two states (t = 2.82, df = 1308, p less than 0.05). The FGD also shows that the beneficiaries are willing to participate more if the outcome will improve their economic life. There is the need for improved funding of adult basic literacy; increase post literacy activities for sustainability of acquired skills and improve curriculum that meets the basic life needs of learners. (Contains 4 tables and 6 figures.)