Bridging the Gap between Science and Humanities: Language and Literature as Catalysts for Development in Nigeria

This paper explores the critical need to bridge the long-standing divide between science and the humanities in Nigeria’s development agenda. It argues that language and literature, particularly poetry, play transformative roles in shaping national values, fostering public engagement, and contextualizing scientific innovations within human experience. Drawing on Amartya Sen’s Development as Freedom (1999), the study positions cultural and ethical dimensions as central to holistic development. Through qualitative content analysis, five Danjuma Osu’s  poems—Before We Grow Insane, Lamentation, We are Cramed, Let Nothing Be Wasted and Sore of the Soul—all from Sore of the Soul by Danjuma Osu and Moses Joseph, are examined. The poems address themes such as leadership, environmental degradation, identity, and social justice, providing insight into challenges often ignored by scientific frameworks. Findings reveal that literature not only gives voice to marginalized perspectives but also critiques systemic policy failures and promotes ethical development. The paper recommends integrating literary studies into science curricula and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations to ensure development that is both technologically sound and socially inclusive.