Transformative Educational Formation: A Pathway to Emancipation from the Absurdity of the Modern Self

• Mary Christine Ugobi-Onyemere

  Dominican University, Ibadan

  Author

Education is often understood as the imparting or acquisition of knowledge, fostering reasoning and judgement. It shapes identity while also nurturing awareness of rights and obligations towards society. Transformative education, however, transcends routine teaching; it empowers learners, motivating them towards maturity and authentic liberation. It enables individuals to develop their talents, make informed choices, and contribute meaningfully to themselves, their communities, and society.

In Nigeria, education has largely relied on rote memorisation and teacher-led instruction, often in unwelcoming environments. Such approaches have hindered learners' capacity to realise their potential. As a result, many young people are shaped more by self-education, peer influence, digital lifestyles, and virtual identities than by formal schooling, with negative effects on growth and civic contribution.

This paper argues that transformative education requires a pedagogy that values and supports learners through empathy, inclusivity, and collaboration. Free from discrimination and class-based divisions, it should provide a curriculum enriched with psycho-socio-economic and spiritual dimensions. Such a formation offers learners the chance to rewrite their stories and reorient their lives. Ultimately, transformative education directed towards emancipation can guide Nigerian youth away from the paradoxes of the modern self.

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