The Development Of Modern Education In Nigeria

Originally published in 1974, a comprehensive history of Nigerian Education, from early times right through to the time of publication, had long been needed by all concerned with Education in Nigeria, students, teachers and educational administrators. No one was better qualified than Professor Fafunwa to provide such a book, and in doing so he gave due emphasis to the beginnings of Education in its three main stages of indigenous, Muslim and Christian Education. Nigerian Education had been considered all too often as a comparatively recent phenomenon, but this book points out from the start that ‘Education is as old as Man himself in Africa’ and that both Islam and Christianity were comparative newcomers in the field. A historical treatment of these three strands which have combined to make up the modern Educational system was vital to a clear understanding of what was needed for the future, and most of the first half of the book is concerned with these Educational beginnings. The imposing of a foreign colonial system on this framework did not always lead to a happy fusion of the systems, and the successes and the failures are examined in detail. There was no shortage of documentary evidence in the form of reports and statistics during the decades prior to publication, but this evidence was frequently scattered and inaccessible to the student, so that the author’s careful selection of key evidence and reports, often drawn from his own personal experience, will be invaluable for those wishing to trace the development of Education in Nigeria up to the early 1970s. A knowledge of the history and development of the Nigerian Education system, of the numerous and intensely varied personalities and beliefs which have combined and often conflicted to shape it, is indispensable to all students in colleges and universities studying to become teachers. It is this knowledge that Professor Fafunwa set out to provide, drawing on his wide experience as teacher writer and educationalist.

This book reports extensive research in higher education in Nigeria as it investigates past and present problems that needs to be review, modify, and the implementation of "what works" in our educational system and "what we can do differently" to improve our educational system to the standard where it suppose to be at this century and thereafter should be the focus of all stakeholders to achieve success through new strategic innovation approach. Accordingly, this book will serve as a resource tool for researchers, educators, administrators, enrollment officers, and students leaders in institutions of higher education in Nigeria to have a sufficient historical background of events which have shaped our institutions of higher learning in Nigeria to what they were nowadays and guide them to make intelligent decision based on the recommendations presented to prevent previous awkward scenario in our past educational history repeating itself.

'Because of the insights offered the book under review should be compulsory reading for Ministers of Education and educational planners as well as for students of educational reform. They would find it readable, informative and disturbing. This could well become a classic account of why innovations fail. - Keith Watson, Department of Education Studies and Management, University of Reading Educational investment is now back at the top of the development agenda. The World Conference on Education for All confirmed the commitment of national governments and donors to provide opportunities for all children to enrol in school and reach minimum levels of achievement. This book takes a new look at the problems that confront politicians, planners, curriculum developers and teachers in implementing educational innovations in developing countries. The insights into theory and practice that emerge provide the intellectual yeast for the development of effective innovation strategies for the next decade.

With the prevailing violent conflict situation of our world, perpetuated sometimes even in the name of religion, humanity today faces extinction. To reverse this ugly trend, humanity has no choice than to build a society where every tribe and tongue can coexist in peace. This work analyzed the violent conflicts from anthropological, behavioral, politico-philosophical, and theological perspectives, and makes a demand on humanity to save herself through proper education and dialogue with all men and religions. Lotanna Olisaemeka is a researcher in Missiology affiliated with the Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule, Vallendar, Germany.

Political stability and peaceful coexistence among Nigeria's diverse nationalities are imperative for development and democratic consolidation and could serve as a model for the region and Africa as a whole. This volume, put together by leading Nigerian scholars, addresses strategies for taming' the military to avoid future coups; solving the ethnic diversity question through national reconciliation; de-marginalising women in politics and society; reducing human rights violations through the law and many other issues.