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The paper discussed the role of the Phelps-Stokes commission on the educational development of African British-dependent colonies, especially Nigeria. The first aspect of the paper considered missionary education and its characteristics; which was mainly evangelization and the conversion of African souls to Christ through education. The second part of the paper highlighted the British Colonial government's lackadaisical attitude to African-dependent colonies education as provided by the missionaries. The Colonial government encouraged and condoned educational practices that educated Africans away from their culture and environment. The authors maintained that it was the poor attitude of the British colonial government towards African education that encouraged the underdevelopment of the people that led to the establishment of the Phelps-Stokes Commission in 1922. However, the findings of the commission jolted the British colonial government into action that brought about a Memorandum of education that emphasized the adaptation policy; making education relevant to the needs and environment of the people. The authors maintain that just as the Phelps-Stokes report stimulated positive changes that led to a high water mark in the educational system of the African British dependent territories; positive changes can also be achieved in the presentNigerianeducational practice to encourage sustainable development in Nigeria