Decolonising Social Work Education Through the Development of a Culturally Relevant Curriculum in Nigeria: Problems and Pitfalls

Social work education, research, and practice have reciprocal impacts. Teaching prepares students for practice and produces graduates for employment, while research investigates issues and areas relevant to education and practice. Lodged within the higher education sector, education and research frequently have priorities that differ from issues of interest to practitioners and policymakers. In the context of efforts to develop a culturally relevant curriculum, this chapter highlights Nigerian academics’ perceptions of, and efforts to develop, an education program consistent with, and relevant to, the demands of practice and highlights problems and pitfalls in developing a culturally relevant curriculum in Nigeria.