Politics, Power, and Education in Nigeria: The Multifaceted Dimensions for Inclusive Sustainable Development in Nigeria
Panden Peter Emmanuel & Alu Alfred Ede
*1 General Studies Education Department, Federal College of Education, Pankshin, Plateau State, Nigeria Email: peterpankat2@gmail.com
2School of General Studies, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria Email: alualfrede@gmaail.com
Abstract
In Nigeria, the complex interplay of politics, power, and education significantly influences sustainable development. Politics, wielding power, shapes educational policies, resource allocation, and institutional governance, while education acts as a tool and outcome of political power, molding civic consciousness and leadership capabilities. However, challenges like corruption, which is not limited to the wrong appointment of persons to key ministries in education and the direct interference of politics in education system, mismanagement and diversion of funds made for educational development, policy instability also hampers consistent implementation of long-term plans. Inadequate funding, resource inequities, and teacher-related issues compound the complexity, impacting education quality and sustainable development. The study advocates for solutions such as fostering a nationalistic spirit, patriotic leadership, anti-corruption measures, policy consistency, increased funding, and targeted teacher training. Streamlining bureaucratic processes, reducing political interference, and involving stakeholders, including local communities, are proposed strategies. The research underscores the critical need for a harmonious relationship between politics, power, and education to drive sustainable development in Nigeria. Strategic solutions, driven by political will, can unlock the transformative potential of education for a more prosperous and equitable future.
Keywords
politics, power, education, and inclusive sustainable development
Reference
Ake, C. (2003). Democracy and Development in Africa. Abuja: Spectrum Books
Ajayi, A. B. (2016). Policy Instability and Reversals in Nigerian Education. Journal of Educational Policies, 10(3), 45-58.
Ajiboye, J. O. (2017). Political Interference in Nigerian Education. Journal of Public Policy and Administration Research, 9(1), 54-67.
Akinsola, M. K. (2014). Bureaucratic Hurdles in Educational Governance. Journal of African Studies and Development, 7(3), 42-54.
Dahl, R. A. (1957). The Concept of Power. Behavioral Science, 2(3), 201-215.
Daron, A and James A. R. (2013). Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prospect and Poverty. London: Profile
Dewey, J. (1916). Democracy and Education. The Free Press.
Easton, D. (1965). A Framework for Political Analysis. Prentice-Hall.
Ezeani, E. O. (2018). Inadequate Funding of Education in Nigeria. International Journal of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, 11(4), 77-82.
Federal Ministry of Environment. (2021). 2050 Long-Term Vision for Nigeria (LTV-2050)- Towards the Development of Nigeria’s Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LT-LEDS). Abuja: Department of Climate Change, FME.
Foucault, M. (1982). The Subject and Power. Critical Inquiry, 8(4), 777-795.
Heywood, A. (2013). Politics (4th ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.
Ibrahim, S. (2016). Lack of Stakeholder Engagement in Educational Development. Journal of Education and Society, 8(2), 1-15.
Lukes, S. (2005). Power: A Radical View (2nd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.
National Bureau of Statistics. (2020). Labor Force Statistics – Volume 2: Unemployment and Underemployment Report (Q4 2020). https://nigerianstat.gov.ng>elibrary Retrieved 9/12/2023
National Institutes of Health (.gov) (2019). Maternal Mortality and Maternal health Care in Nigeria: Implications for Socio-Economic Development. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov>pmc Retrieved 9/12/2023
Ogundipe, O. (2017). Challenges in Teacher Quality and Motivation in Nigeria. African Journal of Education, 17(1), 150-168.
Ogundipe, O. (2018). Solutions to Teacher Training and Motivation Challenges in Nigeria. African Journal of Education, 17 (1), 150-168.
Okebukola, P. A. (2015). Corruption and Mismanagement in Nigerian Education. Journal of Educational Development, 18 (2), 65-78.
Okoro, L. C. (2019). Security Measures for Education in Nigeria. International Journal of Educational Research and Innovation, 11, 120-135.
Oni, A. A. (2019). Inequitable Access to Education in Nigeria. Journal of Public Administration and Policy Research, 12(2), 1-9.
Oyekanmi, F. A. (2016). Infrastructure Deficiency in Nigerian Education. International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 8(5), 70-79.
Premium Times (2022). Nigeria now has 20 million out-of-school children- UNESCO. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/nes/headlines/551804-breaking-nigeria-now-has-20-million-out-of-school-children-unesco.html?tztc=1 Retrieved10/12/2023
Transparency International. (2023). Corruption and anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria. https://knowledgehub.transparency.org>… Retrieved 8/12/2023
World Bank. (2021). Education Overview: Development news, research, data. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/education/overview Retrieved 8/12/2023
World Health Organization. (2020). Nigeria: Country Cooperation Strategy at a Glance: Nigeria. https://policycommons.net>artifacts Retrieved 9/12/2023
Parsons, T. (1961). The School Class as a Social System: Some of Its Functions in American Society. Harvard Educational Review, 31(4), 297-318.
Roskin, M. G., et al. (2018). Political Science: An Introduction (14th ed.). Pearson.
World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our Common Future. Oxford University Press.
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations General Assembly. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda