Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Critical Assessment of Maslow Theory of Needs in Nigerian Context of Quality Education and Zero Hunger

Sustainable development emphasises a need for a nation state to live and meet their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. With development that is sustainable, society can in a way organise itself so that it can exist in the long run. The paper examines the sustainable development goal by interrogating Maslow’s Theory of Needs in Nigeria, in the context of Quality Education and Zero Hunger with this set of objectives. Examination of the concept of Maslow’s Theory of needs as it relates to Zero Hunger and investigating the concept of Maslow’s Theory of needs as it relates to quality education in the Sustainable Development Goals. In analysing the Maslow’s Theory of Needs versus Zero Hunger, Maslow opined that there are very few needs that are purely psychological. In his five-tier model of human needs from the bottom of the hierarchy upwards are: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem and self actualization. As to how Maslow’s hierarchy relates to learning, he opined that all students have basic needs to be met for learning to occur, and that the more needs are met, the more students will learn; therefore as an educator, it will be important to consider Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for every student in the classroom. In conclusion, Maslow’s hierarchy provides a model for how students are motivated to learn. Without the bottom layer of the hierarchy met, the students cannot reach their next level. Each student can move up in the hierarchy with proper support. The never-ending “need” of most bureaucrats, politicians are mainly responsible for the poor condition of our country. It is recommended that sustainable development can be achieved by making education a pillar of sustainable development as the societies of tomorrow will be shaped by the skills and knowledge acquired toda