PROMOTING ETHICAL AND VALUE EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY IN NIGERIA: IMPERATIVE OF ADULT EDUCATION

Abstract

Sustainable development is the development that is aimed at meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. It balances the needs of the economy, environment, education and social wellbeing among others. Therefore, this paper centered on promoting ethical and value education for sustainable development in the 21^st century in Nigeria: Imperative of adult education. The paper conceptualized the term-ethics and values education as a conscience-based education which deals with not mere theoretical engagement of adults with moral principles but involves an active and transformative process that equips individuals with the cognitive tools and emotional intelligence to make morally sound decisions and adopt socially responsible behaviors. Further examined in this paper was the concept of sustainable development as conceived by different scholars. Ethical responsibilities of adult educators were also extensively explicated. Ethical and values challenges in adult education were explicated herein. The relationship between ethical/value education and sustainable development was examined in-depth. The study concluded that empowering adults through ethical and value education is not a luxury; it is a necessity for a just, inclusive, and sustainable world. It was recommended among others that adult educators and policy makers should intentionally design curricula that reflect ethical and values considerations and incorporate values such as sustainability, integrity, social justice, equity and global citizenship among others.