Integration of Innovative Technology Education for sustainable development into Nigerian university education system

Abstract

Integrating Innovative Technology Education (ITE) for sustainable development (SD) into Nigerian university sys tems is a strategic and developmental necessity. As global demands for sustainability and digital transformation intensify, Nigerian universities need to align their curricula, pedagogy, and institutional structures with the (SDGs) and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies (emerging technologies) like Artificial Intelligence (AI), renew able energy, Internet of Things (IoT), and digital learning tools into teaching, research, and community engagement. This study explores existing gaps in policy, curriculum, and access, while proposing actionable strategies including curriculum reform, infrastructure development, faculty training, and public-private partnerships. Grounded in in terdisciplinary perspectives and empirical insights, the study highlights barriers such as digital inequality and poli cy incoherence that hinder meaningful transformation. It argues that systematic and inclusive integration can repo sition universities as hubs of sustainable innovation and national development. The recommendations offered will contribute to ongoing educational reform discourse, offering practical direction for policymakers and institutional stakeholders. Without a deliberate fusion of innovation and sustainability, Nigerian higher education risks falling behind in a fast-evolving global landscape