By Ogbonnaya, Emeka Daniel
The origin of modern education in Nigeria dates back to September 24,1842 when Rev. Thomas Birch Freeman and Mr. and Mrs. William De Graft of the Wesleyan Methodist arrived Badagry to start both Christian and education work. Later, other missions such as the Church Missionary Society (CMS), the Roman Catholic Mission and the United Presbyterian Church arrived Nigeria for the same purpose. The origin of 19th century missions in Nigeria followed the evangelical revival movements in Europe during the late 18th century. The European evangelical movement was due largely to the work of John Wesley. Wesley's challenge to the established Anglican Church, led to the anticlerical and evangelical movements and, consequently, to the "Protestant awakening" which swept across Europe and America in the 19th century. This awakening demanded renewed zeal and commitment on the part of individual Christians as well as deep concern for the personal act of conversion.