Education for Peace and National Development in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64169/dje.7Keywords:
Education, Education for Peace, Development, National Development, National Development in NigeriaAbstract
Education is fundamental for fostering peace and driving national progress in a developing nation like Nigeria. This qualitative paper examined the critical role of education in addressing the dual challenges of promoting social harmony and achieving sustainable development in the country. It also aimed to assess the contribution of educational policies and programs to peacebuilding efforts in Nigeria and their role in national development. It explores the work that in the Nigerian context, where historical, ethnic, and socio-political tensions abound, education is uniquely positioned to bridge communities and catalyze equitable development. The results found immense disarticulations in Nigeria's education, peace, and national development. Additionally, the results identify the key challenges facing the educational sector as policy gaps. The paper concludes that education must be crucial in Nigeria's peace and development agenda. It recommends a nationwide integration of peace education into the country's curriculum.
References
Abdugani, B., Bahriddin, A., Bahodir, P., & Ugli, Y. A. B. (2021). Education Is the Foundation of Sustainability. Journal of Pedagogical Inventions and Practices, 3, 14-17.
Acheampong, F., Atta, G. P., & Atta-Asiamah, E. (2022). Professional Learning Communities and Democratic Ideals: The Influence of John Dewey. Open Journal of Educational Research, 2(6), 392–404. DOI: 10.31586/ojer.2022.518 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31586/ojer.2022.518
Achebe, C. (1983). The Trouble with Nigeria. Fourth Dimension Publishers
Aghenta, J. A. (2001). Educational Planning: A Turning Point in Education and Development in Nigeria. In Saliu, N. B. (Ed.) Nigerian Universities Inaugural lecture Series (pp.151-176). National Universities Commission
Ali, H. (2015). Quality Teaching as an Instrument for Educational Development in Nigeria. Knowledge Review. 32(1), 1-7
Amadei, B. (2021). Systemic Modeling of the Peace–Development Nexus. Sustainability, 13(5), 1-21. DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052522 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052522
Connelly, S. (2007). Mapping sustainable development as a contested concept. Local environment, 12(3), 259-278. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/13549830601183289 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13549830601183289
Covey, S. R. (2004). The 8th habit: From effectiveness to greatness. London: Simon & Schuster.
Ehiemetalor, E. T. (2003). Education Resource Management: Failure of the Past. In Saliu, N. B. (Ed.) Nigerian Universities Inaugural lecture Series (pp.143-170). National Universities Commission
Fafunwa, A.B. (1974) History of 'Education in Nigeria. London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd.
Federal Republic of Nigeria (FGN) (2013). National Policy on Education. Lagos: Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).
Gallie, W. B. (1956, March). Essentially contested concepts. Aristotelian Society. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/aristotelian/56.1.167
Gboyega, A. (2003). Democracy and development: The imperative of local governance. An Inaugural Lecture, University of Ibadan.
Ghafouri, M. (2024). Participatory heritage development for a positive peace framework. In Heritage, Conflict, and Peacebuilding (pp. 149-171). Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003407331-10
Halkos, G. E., Economou, E. M., & Kyriazis, N. C. (2022). Tracing the Optimal Level of Political and Social Change under Risks and Uncertainties: Some Lessons from Ancient Sparta and Athens. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 15(9), 1-19. DOI jjrfmx:v:15:y:2022:i:9:p:416-:d:919135 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm15090416
Hariram, N. P., Mekha, K. B., Suganthan, V., & Sudhakar, K. (2023). Sustainalism: An integrated socio-economic-environmental model to address sustainable development and Sustainability. Sustainability, 15(13), 10682. DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/ su151310682 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310682
Hughes, J., & Loader, R. (2023). Shared education: A case study in social cohesion. Research Papers in Education, 38(3), 305-327. DOI: 10.1080/02671522.2021.1961303 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2021.1961303
Idike, A. N. (2014). Local Government and Sustainable National Development in Nigeria. European Scientific Journal, 10(25), 161-170. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2014.v10n25p%25p
Lawal, T & Oluwatoyin, A. (2011). National development in Nigeria: Issues. Journal of Public Administration and Policy Research, 3(9), 237-241. DOI 10.5897/JPAPR11.012
Mbonu, O. O., Nnadi, I. J., & Okeke, R. C. (2024). Development as freedom: Agenda for sustainable national development in Nigeria [Paper presentation]. First International Hybrid Conference of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Madonna University, Nigeria, Okija Campus. Democracy, Development and Security Challenges in Africa, Okija, Nigeria.
Moore, T. W. (1982). Philosophy of Education: An Introduction. Routledge and Kegan Paul
Muoghalu, K. (2013). The Human Capital Dimension of Economic Transformation Lecture Delivered at the Golden Jubilee Ceremony of the 1st Graduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Ngwacho, G. A. (2024). Value-based education incorporation in competency-based curriculum-recipe for all-inclusive education for enhanced global citizenship. Journal of the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, 4(1), 1-13. DOI https://doi.org/10.62049/jkncu.v4i1.56 DOI: https://doi.org/10.62049/jkncu.v4i1.56
Noyoo, N. (2000). Ethnicity and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Social Development in Africa 15(2), 55-67. DOI 10.4314/jsda.v15i2.23859 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/jsda.v15i2.23859
Okeke, B. S. (2001). Quality Management and national Goal attainment in Education: The Case of Nigeria. In In Saliu, N. B. (Ed.) Nigerian Universities Inaugural lecture Series (pp.263-296). National Universities Commission
Okeke, R. C., & Chukwudebelu, C. B. (2024). Educational Policy and National Development in Nigeria. International Journal of Education and Evaluation, 10(4), 268-274. DOI 10.56201/ijee.v10.no4.2024.pg268.274 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54097/e8r7jj67
Okeke, R.C and Ifeagwazi, P. A. (2018). Public Policy and National Development in Nigeria: A Focus on Admission Policies in Tertiary Education. Paper Presented At the 8th International Conference of the Society for Research and Academic Excellence, 5th to 8th February, 2018, Venue: Princess Alexandria Auditorium University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Okeke, R.C, Chukwudebelu, B.C., & Idike, A.N. (2016). Entrepreneurial Education and National Reconstruction in Nigeria: Critical Issues of Sustainable Development in an Emergent African Polity. World Scientific News. 45(2), 239-251.
Okeke, R.C. & Chukwudebelu, B. C. (2014). Democratic Capitalism and National Educational Challenges in Nigeria. Journal of Research in National Development. 12(2), 181-185.
Okeke, R.C. (2014). The State, Education and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Some Critical Policy Options. International Journal of Social Sciences and Education, 4 (4), 809-817.
Okeke, R.C. (2015). Fundamentals of Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Focus on Water Policy in Nigeria. International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences, 65, 143-151. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18052/www.scipress.com/ILSHS.65.143
Ozigi, A & Canham, P. (1979). An introduction to the foundations of education. Macmillan
Parpiev, O. (2023). Characteristics of the Development of Physical Education in the Ancient East, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome. European Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development, 18. 170–177.
Richmond, O. P. (2023). Peace: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780192857026.001.0001
Sahibzada, H. E., Shakirullah, & Naz, S. (2021). Education in the Ancient Greek Civilization: Lessons from the Past. Ancient Pakistan, 26. 109-116.
Sen, A. (1999). Development as freedom. Oxford University Press
Siddiqui, M.H. (2008). Encyclopaedia of Education (Vol.V): Philosophical and Sociological Foundations of Education. A P. H publishing Corporation
Taiwo, C.O. (1980). The Nigerian education system, past, present and future. Thomas Nelson.
Tariq, S. (2023). The Role of Education in Promoting Social Mobility: A Multifaceted Analysis. Liberal Journal of Language & Literature Review, 1(02), 72-79.
Walker, M. (2012). A capital or capabilities education narrative in a world of staggering inequalities?. International Journal of Educational Development, 32(3), 384-393. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011.09.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011.09.003
Watene, R. (2021). Disability Rights: Positive Peace Through a Disability Lens. In The Palgrave Handbook of Positive Peace (pp. 501-517). Springer Singapore. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0969-5_26
Zheng, J., & Huang, S. (2025). Popularization Education and National Progress: Real Challenges and Future Outlook. International Theory and Practice in Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(1), 125-141. DOI: https://doi.org/10.70693/itphss.v2i1.19
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Remi Okeke
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
