THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN SHAPING EDUCATIONAL VALUES AND CURRICULUM: HISTORICAL LEGACIES, CONTEMPORARY REALITIES, AND FUTURE IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Religion has long influenced formal education, shaping moral values, identity formation, and curricular priorities. By tracing colonial and postcolonial trajectories with a focus on Nigeria, this article examines the tensions and potentials at the intersection of faith and education. Drawing on existing scholarships and key contributions by C. M. Udemba (Udemba) in women’s empowerment and religious literacy, and using primary and second sources of data collection, the article argues for inclusive, pluralistic curricula that support critical engagement and social justice.