Nigerian University Education and the Global Questions: Implications for Sustainable Development
Abstract
Efforts have gone into the attainment of sustainable development goals globally. In spite of this, only a handful of results have been realised and the sustainable development goals now seem more out of reach than ever. Thus, global questions have arisen as to what effect university education contributes on the attainment of sustainable development goals. On this premise, this paper delves into the implications of sustainable development caused by the lack of intervention in the educational sector specifically in Nigeria. Education for sustainable development pertains to how sustainable development can be included in school curriculums to develop students’ mindset towards the attainment of sustainable development goals and thus the development of their immediate environment. The aim of this paper is to provide answers to the global questions on how to achieve sustainable development, particularly in the university educational system. A suitable literature review detailing the opinions of various authors on the topic will be made to analyse the varying situations this paper’s topic faces worldwide. The issues outlined in this work will be provided to shed light on the limitations to sustainable development, starting from the education sector. These include poverty, corruption in school administration, low priority for education and much more. This paper will be concluded using the key points from the body of work to throw more light on the takeaways a reader should keep in memory and practical use. The suggestions will be a response to the issues discussed and how best to tackle them realistically.
Downloads
References
Abubakar, A. B. (2013). Education and sustainable national development in Nigeria: challenges and way forward. International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences. 14, 65-72.
Ahenkan, A. &Osei–Kojo, A. (2014). Achieving sustainable development in Africa: progress, challenges, and prospects. International Journal of Development and Sustainability. 3(1), 162-174.
Akintoye, V. A. & Opeyemi, O. A. (2014). Prospects for achieving sustainable development through the millennium development goals in Nigeria. European Journal of Sustainable Development.3 (1), 33-46.
Aletan, S. (2012). Unplanned breaks effects students ASUU strike: Daily new October 21st, 2012 Nigeria daily post Nigeria Newspaper online.
Amadi, E.C. & Urho, P. (2015). “Educational Management Planners’ View of Strike Action and its Effects on Educational Management in Universities In Rivers State.” Singaporean journal of business economics and management studies, 4(7), 45-55.
Askoy, G. (2012). The effects of Animation technique on the 7th Grade science and technology course. Creative education. Vol 3, No3. 304 -308.
Britannica, (2023). https://www.britannica.com/topic/sustainable- development. Sustainable development.
Chukwu L.C., Chinyelugo, A.F, Eze S.G.N. (2017). ‘Financing university education for sustainable development in Nigeria: Issues and challenges’.
Difference between local and global questions of comprehension. https://brainly.in/question/8957231 by aashi2701 (2019)
Drew, C (2023). Education For Sustainable Development, Explained! https://helpfulprofessor.com/education- for- sustainable- development/
Educalingo.com. (2023). “What Does University Education Mean in English?” https://www.google.com/amp/s/educalingo.com/en/dic-en/university-education/amp
Ekwueme, C.O., Ekon, E.E. & Ezenwa-Nebife, D.C. (2016). Education for sustainability through academic freedom. Global Journal of Educational Research.15, 23-30.
Erhunse, C. (2013). Education as an effective instrument for grassroots development (A case study of Ika South Local Government Areas of Delta State. Unpublished B.Ed Project. Delta State University, Abraka.
ESD Toolkit (2023). ‘Challenges and Barriers to ESD.’http://www.esdtoolkit.org/discussion/challenges.htm.
ESD, (2023) https://le.ac.uk/social-impact/what-we-are-doing/education-for-sustainable-development
Ewetan, O.O. & Uche, E. (2014)” Insecurity and Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria”. Journal of Sustainable Development Studies Vol.1. 40-63.
Gbadegesin, S. (2010). Reclaiming the 1955 vision. A legacy of educational excellence. Essays commemorating the 50th anniversary of universal primary education in Western Nigeria, 1955- 2005.Mitchellvile, MD: Pinnacle Publications.
Hargeaves, A. (2010). In international encyclopedia of education (Third Edition). Retrieved from www.sciencedirect.com on 20th April, 2023.
Home Environmental Sustainability: “What We Are Doing: Education For Sustainable Development?”. https://le.ac.uk/social-impact/what-we-are-doing/education-for-sustainable-development. Last accessed 3rd April, 2023.
IGI Global, (2023). What is Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/a-teaching-philosophy/52809
Ilechukwu, L.C, Njoku, C, C & Ugwuozor, F.O (2014). Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as the 21st Century Imperative for Nigeria’s National Transformation, Sustainable Development and Global Competitiveness. ISSN 2222-1700 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2855 (Online) Vol.5, No.23, 2014
Insee.fr (2021). Tertiary education. https://www.insee.fr/en/metadonnees/definition/c1871.
Itari, P.E. &Ugbe, T.U. (2018). Education for sustainable development in Nigeria and Developing nations. British Journal of Education.6(5), 41-51.
Jaypeedigital (2023). Section 1 Introduction To Education. https://www.jaypeedigital.com/eReader/chapter/9789386261571/ch1
Law Insider. (2023) Formal education definition. https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/formal-education
Leonard, C. I., Collins, C. N. & Felix, O. U. (2014). Education and development disconnect in Nigeria: education for sustainable development (esd) as the 21st century imperative for Nigeria’s national transformation, sustainable development and global competitiveness. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development. 5(23), 44-52. United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP (2011). Mainstreaming environment and sustainability into African Universities (MESA). Available at www.unep.org.25/08/11.
Mary-Louise K. (2009), “Higher Education, Research and Innovation: Charting the course of the changing Dynamics of the Knowledge Society. In Lynn Meek U. Ulrich Teichler and Mary-Louise Kearney (Eds) Higher Education, Research and Innovation: Changing Dynamic. Retrieved on Uneedoc. Unesco.org >images.
Merriam Webster, (2023). ‘University’. https://www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/university
Musa, F.M. & Ahmad, Z. (2012). Higher Education Physical Assets and Facilities. Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, University Technology MARA, U; TM, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Nidirect.gov (2023). ‘What higher education is’ https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/what-higher-education
Nnabuo, P. O.M. & Asodike, J. D. (2012). Exploring education as a tool for sustainable development in Nigeria. European Scientific Journal. 8(10), 1- 11.
Ofor-Douglas, S. (2021). Human resource management as an effective tool for productivity in Nigerian universities. International Journal of Scientific Research in Education. 14(2), 223-237.
Ofor-Douglas, S. (2022). University Education Good Governance and Challenges of Insecurity in Nigeria. East African Journal of Education Studies, 5(1), 54-65. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajes.5.1.555.
Oladipo, B. (2012). Unplanned breaks effects students ASUU strike: Daily new October 21st, 2012 Nigeria daily post Nigeria Newspaper online.
Omobola, G. & Success, F. (2019). Funding University Education In Nigeria: The Challenges and Way Forward.
Osaigbovo, J.H. & Ikediashi, J.A. (2022). Challenges confronting the implementation of tertiary education trust fund (TETFUND) in Nigerian Educational System: The way forward. African Education Indices. 12(1), 20-30.
Outputeducation, (2023). https://www.outputeducation.com/the-true-meaning-definition-and-concept-of-education/
Peters, C. C. 2019. Fundamentals of Religion. New York: Legend Publishers.
Robert – Okah & Worlu W.I. (2013). Deregulation of university education in Nigeria: Assessment of challenges and the way forward. In E. Kpangban, P.E. Eya and P.C. Igbojinwaekwu (Eds) Reforms and innovation in Nigerian education. Onitsha: West and Solomon Publishing Company Ltd. In Olusola,O.I, & Adejoke, A.O (2019). Nigeria Secondary Educational System And Sustainable Development Goals’ Attainment Toward Vision 2030 By GSJ: Volume 7, Issue 12, December 2019, Online: ISSN 2320-9186 www.globalscientificjournal.com
Sustainable development. https://www.iisd.org/mission-and-goals/sustainable-development
Tuli, F. (2009). Education for Sustainable Development: A Global Agenda for the 21st Century. Ethiop. J. Educ. & Sc. Vol. 4 No.2 March, 2009.
Ubogu, R. (2020). The role of teacher education in improving quality education for a functional society. Journal of Educational and Social Research.10(2), 85-93.
UNESCO (2013). Education for sustainable development. Retrieved form https://plus.google.com/-UNESCO.
UNESCO, (2022). What is education for sustainable development? https://www.unesco.org/en/education/sustainable- development/need- know#:~:text=I%20get%20involved%3F- ,What%20is%20education%20for%20sustainable%20development%3F,use%20of%20resources%2C%20and%20inequality. 9 June 2022
United Nation Environment Programme (2023). “What is Sustainable Development?” Last accessed 29th March, 2023. .https://www.unep.org/explore- topics/sustanable-development-goals/why-do-sustainable-development-goals-matter/frequently
Van Poeck, K. and Loones, J. (2011), Education for Sustainable Development: Flag and Cargo. Brussels: Flemish Government, Environment, Nature and Energy Department.
Warwick, P. (2020). What is education for sustainable development? Retrieved from www.plymouth.ac.uk.20th April, 2023.
What is education for sustainable development? Green office movement, 2023 https://www.greenofficemovement.org/education-for-sustainable-development/
Yusuf, S.D., Kathukah, D.G & Bartholomew, Z.W.K.N. (2022). Transforming Communities Toward Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria: Contributions of Academic Libraries.
Zimm, C, Sperling, F & Busch, S (2018). Identifying Sustainability and Knowledge Gaps in Socio-Economic Pathways Vis-à-Vis the Sustainable Development Goals. Economies 2018, 6(2), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies6020020
Copyright (c) 2023 Stella Ofor-Douglas, PhD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
