Education for social change in Nigeria

Background information

The population in Nigeria has to withstand numerous challenges. In the north-east, armed groups such as the Islamist terrorist organization Boko Haram threaten people with violence and destruction. The people affected by this are traumatized and the relationship between Christians and Muslims is permanently disturbed. In addition, social, economic and environmental problems such as the structural discrimination of women due to the patriarchal society, the low level of education, widespread poverty, climate change and its effects as well as the unfavorable use of natural resources pose major challenges for the people in the northeast of the country. In addition, the economic burden on households has increased due to record-high inflation and the abolition of fuel subsidies. The "Church of the Brethren in Nigeria" (EYN) counteracts these problems in various ways. Pastors and leaders of the church have an important role to play in social change due to their widespread distribution and socially respected position. Socially relevant issues can be addressed by progressive and trained pastors and parishioners within parishes and village communities. Religious institutions such as EYN's Theological Education by Extension (TEE) play a key role in dealing with these issues. Here, students and pastors complete contextual theological education and training courses in which social and environmental developments and problems are critically reflected upon, relevant questions are answered and people are empowered to actively contribute to solving these problems. Topics covered include sexual and gender-based violence, gender justice, human rights, peace and justice, forgiveness and reconciliation, mental health, political and social engagement, diversity and community, as well as environmental protection.

Project goals

By providing contextualized theological training, the project helps to ensure that pastors and theology students become driving forces for positive change in the church and society:

• Theology students have the necessary knowledge of contextual theology and key social issues and can reflect critically on religious and social issues and promote solutions to social problems.
• Theology students and staff at EYN are sensitized to environmental protection as well as sustainable methods and practices and are able to apply them.

Target group

The target group of the project are primarily theology students of the TEE training center, who are young professionals of the church, as well as pastors and leading staff of the EYN.

Activities

• To promote holistic and contextual academic formation for students of theology and future pastors.
• Further development and production of theological and socially relevant educational material.
• Incorporating socially relevant issues into the education of theology students.

Project progress

Last year, 527 students successfully completed the program. The strength of EYN's non-academic TEE program lies in the fact that the topics covered are transferred into the everyday practice of the course participants. Gender equality and ecological projects such as tree planting are just two of the many topics covered in the project. The success of the project is reflected in the steadily growing interest of the target population. Practical course elements in particular, such as the construction of resource-saving cooking stoves or the production of charcoal from organic waste, also arouse the interest of the Muslim neighborhood, which in turn promotes interreligious dialogue.