TRENDS IN MUSIC CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Music in Nigeria serves as a vital medium for cultural expression, identity, moral education, and nation-building, yet its formal instruction has historically struggled with a legacy of Westerncentric models.This paper examines contemporary trends, opportunities, and systemic challenges shaping music curriculum development in Nigeria.Key developments include national policy alignment under the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) 9-Year Basic Education Curriculum, ongoing efforts to indigenize and decolonize music content, the integration of digital music technology to foster entrepreneurship and employability, and a shift toward applied, community-based learning.The paper employs a qualitative literature review design to examine trends in music curriculum development in Nigeria.The result reveals that the effective enactment of these reforms is severely constrained by structural persistent barriers, including chronic underfunding, the marginalization of music within broader Creative and Cultural Arts (CCA) frameworks, inadequate physical infrastructure, and a shortage of specialized, dualcompetency music educators.The study concludes that fulfilling the educational, cultural, and economic potential of Nigeria's music curriculum requires bridging the policy-practice gap through sustained funding, localized learning materials, targeted teacher training, and active partnerships between schools and local artistic communities.