IMPACT, CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS OF THEOLOG ICAL EDUCATION IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Theological education in Kaduna State has its roots in the activities of Christian missionaries in Northern Nigeria. The arrival of some missionaries from the Church Missionary Society (CMS) from Britain and other denominations in the early 20th century inexorably led to the establishment of churches, schools and hospitals. The establishment of the above organizations laid the groundwork for theological education in Kaduna State. Theological education in Kaduna State has evolved significantly over the years and it has been influenced by local and international factors. The local factors include historical, social and cultural contexts. The international factors are transnationalism and globalization. Previous studies on theological education in Northern Nigeria have consistently opened academic vacuums yet to be explored. It is in response to the yearnings created by these vacuums that this paper is visualised. The objective of this paper is to highlight the challenges and prospects of theological education in Kaduna State. The study adopts historical and sociological methods. The paper concludes that theological education faces challenges like inadequate funding, curriculum issues and cultural defiance in Kaduna State. The way these challenges are addressed will largely determine the prospects of theological education in Kaduna State in the future.