Education for Peace and National Development in Nigeria

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.