By Charles Akinbode
The Provost of the Redeemed Christian Bible College (RCBC), Prof. Babatunde Aderemi Adedibu, has called for review of curriculum of Religious Studies in Nigeria.
Adedibu, a Professor of Church History and Missiology, said the review of religious studies curriculum was necessary to reflect global changes on practice and missionary service.
According to him, some of the courses being offered the faith-based universities in Nigeria are not reflective of the global migration trend which are characterised by fludity of socio-cultural and religious ideals.
Delivering the inaugural lecture series 10 of the Redeemer’s University titled “Mission Out of Africa: The Changing Faces of African Christianity” at the university’s auditorium in Ede, Osun State on Thursday, Adedibu maintained that other religion curriculum should be encouraged in the faith-based institutions to said foster religious understanding and tolerance.
The don said that although the introduction of new Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) is plausible, there should be more flexibility to introduce new courses relevant to the needs of employers such as churches and mission agencies.
The inaugural lecture partly read: “The politics of religious education which has seen the introduction of Islamic courses in Christian Religious Studies is good as this gives students broad knowledge of other religions.
“However, this development is one-sided as many Islamic Studies Department in Nigerian Universities do not offer any Christian Religious Studies courses. This imbalance should be corrected if graduates of religious studies (Christian and Islamic options) will appreciate interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance in a multi-ethnic and pluralistic society like Nigeria.
“Likewise, lack of integration of Christian mission courses in Christian Religious Studies in most Universities offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in various fields on Christian Religious Studies is a grave oversight by policy makers and curriculum developers on religious education in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
“There is an urgent need for review of curriculum of Religious Studies in Nigeria, as some of the courses being offered are not reflective of the global migration trends which are characterised by fluidity of socio-cultural and religious ideals due to the forces of globalisation and technological advancements.
“There is the urgent need for Christian-owned universities to initiate undergraduate and postgraduate programmes on mission or intercultural studies that will contribute significantly to the missional aspirations of their proprietors.
“Although this might be quite demanding with statutory procedures of National Universities Commission, it will be supported by their proprietor(s) once the benefits that will accrue to churches are well articulated to the proprietors. Some of these programmes include Doctor of Ministry, Missiology, Intercultural Studies and a host of others.
“Learning is quite dynamic and as such, there is the need for Religious Studies Departments in Nigerian universities to initiate town and gown parley in academic formation of their students. This will enable the students to integrate theoretical knowledge with praxis which will assist them to learn faster and inspire them to excel in their chosen field of endeavours.”