The question “Who permits inclusion of sex, masturbation and homosexuality into Nigerian textbooks?” has sparked national debate, drawing attention from parents, educators, religious leaders, and government authorities. Many Nigerians are concerned about the content being taught in schools, especially when it involves sensitive topics that challenge traditional values and beliefs.
In this article, we explore who is responsible for approving educational content, how such topics make their way into schoolbooks, and the controversy surrounding sexuality education in Nigeria.
Understanding Nigeria’s Curriculum Development Process
In Nigeria, educational curriculum development and textbook approval are centralized and regulated by national agencies, mainly:
- National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC)
- Federal Ministry of Education
- State Ministries of Education
These bodies review and approve textbooks before they are adopted in public and private schools. Therefore, no book is officially used in the Nigerian curriculum without undergoing a multi-level vetting process.
The Role of NERDC in Approving Educational Content
The NERDC is the primary body responsible for designing, reviewing, and implementing curriculum frameworks across primary and secondary schools in Nigeria. In collaboration with stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, teacher unions, NGOs, and international agencies, NERDC integrates topics based on global education standards, including:
- Reproductive health
- Personal hygiene
- Emotional well-being
- Family life and HIV education (FLHE)
While these additions aim to inform and protect students, critics argue that the depth and nature of some content, including discussions on masturbation and homosexuality, go against Nigerian cultural and religious norms.
International Influence: WHO, UNFPA, and UNESCO
Many of the controversial inclusions stem from Nigeria’s alignment with global educational standards set by:
- UNESCO (Comprehensive Sexuality Education – CSE)
- UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)
- WHO (World Health Organization)
These bodies promote age-appropriate, rights-based sexuality education, aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse, HIV, and other social issues.
However, critics argue that these standards may not align with Nigerian sociocultural realities, thus raising concern among traditional and religious communities.
What Topics Are Being Included?
Some of the content reported to have been included in various sex education materials includes:
- Sexual identity and orientation
- Masturbation as part of sexual development
- Understanding sexual consent
- Same-sex relationships and LGBTQ+ rights
Although not all these topics are explicitly taught in every school, they have appeared in sample materials used in some states or by NGOs involved in youth education.
Public Outcry and Backlash
The inclusion of these topics has led to public outrage in various quarters, especially when:
- Parents discovered textbooks with explicit sexual content.
- Religious groups raised alarms about immorality in education.
- Activists questioned the transparency of textbook approval processes.
Social media has further amplified these debates, prompting lawmakers and education boards to review certain materials and demand accountability.
Has the Government Responded?
Yes. In recent years, the Federal Ministry of Education and NERDC have responded to criticism by:
- Disclaiming unauthorized books allegedly inserted into the school system
- Suspending distribution of controversial materials in some states
- Reviewing partnerships with international donors and NGOs
- Engaging religious and community leaders for curriculum reform
In some instances, the government emphasized that no official approval was given for books containing “immoral” content, and such materials may have been introduced by private publishers or organizations without regulatory consent.
So, Who Permits It?
The NERDC, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, is responsible for curriculum development and must approve every content included in school textbooks.
However, external influences such as donor agencies, foreign NGOs, and private publishers have contributed to the content through partnership programs, teacher training modules, and pilot textbook projects. If these materials are used without thorough NERDC scrutiny, errors and misrepresentations can slip into classrooms.
The question “Who permits inclusion of sex, masturbation and homosexuality into Nigerian textbooks?” exposes the complex intersection of policy, education, culture, and global influence.
To address this issue responsibly, it is vital to:
- Ensure transparent review processes
- Engage local cultural and religious stakeholders
- Prioritize age-appropriate and contextual education
- Demand accountability from both local and international collaborators
At its core, the debate is not just about content, but about who decides what Nigerian children should learn and how to balance global standards with national values.
