Language, Innovation, And Sustainability in ESL teacher training: Innovating ESL teacher education to meet the demands of a sustainable and entrepreneurial future

The increasing demand for entrepreneurial competencies and sustainable development skills has repositioned English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher training in Nigerian tertiary institutions as a critical platform for preparing future educators who can drive innovation and socio-economic growth. This paper investigates the integration of entrepreneurial communication skills within ESL teacher education, with a focus on sustainability and innovation. Specifically, it examines the extent to which current ESL training programs embed entrepreneurial communication skills relevant to a sustainable future; explores the role of innovative pedagogical practices in strengthening ESL teacher education for entrepreneurial and sustainability goals; and identifies the challenges and opportunities in innovating ESL teacher training to build a sustainable and entrepreneurial future in Nigeria. Using structured closed-ended questionnaire, the study draws on survey data from ESL lecturers and teacher trainers to capture deeper insights into institutional practices and challenges. The Findings reveal that while entrepreneurial communication skills are recognized as vital, their integration into ESL curricula remains limited and often peripheral. Innovative pedagogical practices—such as project-based learning, problem-solving tasks, and digital literacy integration—emerge as underutilized but highly promising strategies for aligning teacher education with sustainability goals. Some of the key challenges identified include inadequate institutional support, limited training resources, and resistance to curriculum innovation. However, significant opportunities exist in leveraging interdisciplinary collaboration, policy reforms, and technology-driven learning. The study underscores the need for a paradigm shift in ESL teacher education to foster entrepreneurial and sustainability-oriented communication skills, equipping future educators to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s development trajectory.