Religious Education in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Challenges and Opportunities in Nigeria

Abstract

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is the current and developing environment in which changing 
technologies and trends such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) are 
changing lifestyle and nature of work. The 4IR presents a number of implications for skills 
development and general education. This paper looked into Religious Education in the 4IR to 
determine the challenges and opportunities in the Nigerian context. The research employed a 
qualitative approach using unobtrusive research techniques which include documentary and 
conceptual analysis for authoritative sources to conceptualise and contextualise the 4IR and religious 
education in Nigeria. The findings of the study showed technological infrastructure, digital divide, 
content localization, quality control and misinformation, balancing traditional and technological 
approaches, preservation of cultural and religious heritage, ethical considerations and teacher training 
and professional development are common challenges of 4IR in Nigerian context. The study therefore 
recommends that government should invest in the development of infrastructure and human, technical, 
and financial capacity to develop the education system to participate in the 4IR as several opportunities 
were open religious education.