EDUCATION AND THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION AND ICT IN NIGERIA: NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IMPLICATIONS

Globalization and its accompanying Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have affected educational practices in Nigeria positively and negatively. Education is an instrument of national development, which is why any threats to or challenges of education ought to be issues of national disturbance. The educational implications of globalization for the developing nations like Nigeria are enormous. For instance, the process of integrating technology into classroom instructions pre-supposes a technologically-based teacher training programmes. The production of knowledge-based individuals, suitably equipped for the globalized era demands re-structuring of the school curriculum to the tune of global trends. This paper exposes these challenges of education occasioned by globalization and ICT in Nigeria. The paper begins by analysis of major antecedents and proceeds to clarification of key concepts. It goes further to delineate the role of education in national development and the negative effects of globalization on Nigeria education. It concludes by identifying strategies to be adopted to position education in the context of globalization. The paper operates on the conviction that education in Nigeria would be better placed to perform its task of national development if these global challenges are met. For now, it seems that globalization and ICT have frustrated educational programmes in Nigeria.