Innovation in Education: A Tool for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

Abstract

In the face of Nigeria’s multifaceted developmental challenges ranging from economic inequality to environmental degradation education remains a strategic lever for national transformation. This paper explores how innovation in education serves as a critical tool for achieving sustainable development in Nigeria. Drawing from contemporary literature, global
frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and national education policies, the study examines how digital technologies, creative pedagogies, and values-based education can drive systemic change. While innovation is increasingly embraced in Nigerian education discourse, its practical implementation is hindered by infrastructural deficits, policy-practice gaps, teacher under-preparedness, and socio-political instability. The paper also integrates theological and ethical perspectives, emphasizing the role of faith-based institutions and moral leadership in shaping holistic and sustainable education systems.
Recommendations are presented to support infrastructural development, strengthen teacher capacity, ensure inclusive access to digital tools, and foster policy accountability. Ultimately, the paper argues that educational innovation is not a mere modernization trend but a moral and developmental necessity for Nigeria’s survival and growth in the 21st century. It calls for a reimagined educational paradigm rooted in equity, resilience, and global citizenship to equip learners for responsible participation in a rapidly evolving world.