Educational Innovations That Accelerated the Development and Nurturing Excellence in Early Childhood Education in Nigeria through Functional Education

Olayanju Oladapo, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo

The paper takes a panoramic view on the innovations that accelerated the development and nurturing excellence in early childhood education in Nigeria through functional education. The conceptual framework for the study hinged on innovation and functional education while the theoretical model adapted for the study was European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model. Historical method of enquiry was use to collect data for the paper. Equally discussed in the paper were: the Historical Antecedents and the objectives of early childhood education in Nigeria. Findings revealed that Early Childhood and Education had impacted in nurturing excellence in pupils into basic education. Based on the discussion of this paper it was recommended that governments and individuals, private sectors, corporate bodies and philanthropic organisations should collaborates in funding early childhood education in Nigeria. Government should motivate early childhood teachers to update their knowledge by attending conferences, seminars and workshops locally and internationally.