Citizenship Education in Nigeria as an Alternative to National Unity
Abstract
Nigeria, as a multicultural society, is confronted with issues of ethnicity, insecurity, corruption, political crises, ethnoreligious dichotomies, weak institutions, and poor governance, which result in a lack of trust among its citizens. As a result, many Nigerians advocate secession, while others advocate restructuring. This research aims to explain the place of citizenship education in Nigeria's national unity process. They are using qualitative methods with an interpretive paradigm approach. Civic education produces active citizens who are socially responsible, sensitive, adaptable, and socially intelligent members of their immediate environment and broader society. Genuine national unity will be ushered in by a sincere and willful commitment among Nigeria's diverse citizens to live honestly and consistently, demonstrated in a progressive nation working towards long-term development for present and future generations. This research suggests a way forward to include, among other things, that all Nigerian citizens should seek to imbibe the spirit of accommodating and working with others to promote national unity and integration.
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[37] Udofia, C. A., & Uduigwomen, A. F. (2022). Political Defections in Nigeria: Implications for Our Nascent Democracy. Texas Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 8, 32-34.
[38] Udofia, D., & Alexander, C. (2017). Leadership in the Health Sector: A Discourse of the Leadesrhip Model of Utilitarianism. Journal of Health Ethics, 13(1), 6.
[39] Umoh, N., & Adeyi, E. M. (2019). Social integration: A nation-building strategy for Nigeria’s federalism. Review of Public Administration and Management, 6(3), 1-7.
[40] Wang, F. (2018). Social justice leadership—Theory and practice: A case of Ontario. Educational Administration Quarterly, 54(3), 470-498.
[41] Wills, J. (2008). Making class politics possible: organizing contract cleaners in London. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 32(2), 305-323.
[42] Zhong, B. L., Luo, W., Li, H. M., Zhang, Q. Q., Liu, X. G., Li, W. T., & Li, Y. (2020). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Chinese residents during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 outbreak: a quick online cross-sectional survey. International journal of biological sciences, 16(10), 1745.
[2] Agere, S. (1986). Participation in social development and integration in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Social Development in Africa, 1(1), 93-110.
[3] Akpan, C. O., & Udofia, C. A. (2015). Reforming Education in Africa: The Liberative Pedagogy Perspective. British Journal of Education, Society & Behavioural Science, 6(1), 71-77.
[4] Alexandre , G. de C., & Tipanoa, N. C. (2022). Built Heritage: Contours and Challenges of its Preservation on the Island of Mozambique. Alkebulan: A Journal of West and East African Studies, 2(1), 1–14.
[5] Aloko, S. M., & Abdullahi, U. (2018). Corruption and underdevelopment in Nigeria: Challenges and solutions. Scientific Research Journal, 6(7), 1-10.
[6] Andrews, M., Pritchett, L., & Woolcock, M. (2017). Building state capability: Evidence, analysis, action (p. 288). Oxford University Press.
[7] Bennett, S., & Maton, K. (2010). Beyond the ‘digital natives’ debate: Towards a more nuanced understanding of students’ technology experiences. Journal of computer assisted learning, 26(5), 321-331.
[8] Bloemraad, I. (2000). Citizenship and immigration a current review. Journal of International Migration and Integration/Revue de l’integration et de la migration internationale, 1, 9-37.
[9] Boutros-Ghali, B. (1991). Empowering the United Nations. Foreign Aff., 71, 89.
[10] Choi, M. (2016). A concept analysis of digital citizenship for democratic citizenship education in the internet age. Theory & research in social education, 44(4), 565-607.
[11] Chukwujekwu, O. N., & Igwe, P. K. (2020). Social Study Education and Civic Education: Implication for National Development. Nnadiebube Journal of Education in Africa, 5(1).
[12] Gilley, B. (2009). The right to rule: How states win and lose legitimacy. Columbia University Press.
[13] Howe, H. M. (2001). Ambiguous order: military forces in African states. Lynne Rienner Publishers.
[14] Jinping, X. (2017, October). Secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and strive for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. In delivered at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China October (Vol. 18, No. 2017, pp. 2017-11).
[15] Kateb, G. (2006). Patriotism and other mistakes. Yale University Press.
[16] Magesso, N. L. (2022). Demographic Factors Associated With Insecticide Treated Net Use among Northern Mozambique Women and Children under Five. Alkebulan: A Journal of West and East African Studies, 2(2), 1–7.
[17] Marenin, O. (1989). Implementing national unity: Changes in national consciousness among participants in the National Youth Service Corps of Nigeria. The Journal of Ethnic Studies, 17(2), 23.
[18] McCowan, T. (2011). Rethinking citizenship education: A curriculum for participatory democracy. A&C Black.
[19] Nduba, J. O., Nnamdi, M., & Chukwuebuka, O. H. (2020). The Crisis of Nationalism and Ethnic Agitations in Nigeria: An Analysis of the Indigenous People of Biafra. Crisis, 4(4), 4-13.
[20] Obiorah, C. B., & Okoye, A. C. (2020). Regional Agitation and the Challenges of National Integration in Nigeria: Political Restructuring as a Panacea. Studies in Politics and Society, 9, 227-247.
[21] Odeyemi, J. O. (2014). A political history of Nigeria and the crisis of ethnicity in nation-building. International Journal of Developing Societies, 3(1), 1-12.
[22] Okolo, P. O. (2014). Influence of the Federal Character Principle on national integration in Nigeria. American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 4(6), 121-138.
[23] Omotuyi, S. (2016). Electoral Process and Neo-Patrimonialism: An Appraisal of Quality of Governance in Democratic Nigeria. Global Journal of Human-Social Science: Political Science, 16(3).
[24] Onyegbula, S. C. (2017). The efficacy of the Nigerian human rights violation investigation commission (Oputa Commission) in the process of transitional justice (1966–1999) (Doctoral dissertation).
[25] Ossai, A. G., & Nwabuwe, S. N. (2023). Teachers’ Knowledge of Education Tort Liability and Students’ Discipline In Secondary Schools in Delta State, Nigeria. Alkebulan: A Journal of West and East African Studies, 3(1), 1–10.
[26] Otache, I. (2020). The effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Nigeria’s economy and possible coping strategies. Asian Journal of Social Sciences and Management Studies, 7(3), 173-179.
[27] Pashby, K. (2011). Cultivating global citizens: Planting new seeds or pruning the perennials? Looking for the citizen-subject in global citizenship education theory. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 9(3-4), 427-442.
[28] Pashby, K., & Sund, L. (2020). Decolonial options and foreclosures for global citizenship education and education for sustainable development. Nordic Journal of Comparative and International Education (NJCIE), 4(1), 66-83.
[29] Paul, O. O., & Ademola, O. T. (2021). Geography Education as a tool for National Integration in Nigeria. International Journal of Intellectual Discourse, 4(2), 39-47.
[30] Richardson, G. H., & Abbott, L. (2009). Between the national and the global: Exploring tensions in Canadian citizenship education. Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism, 9(3), 377-394.
[31] Sebaganwa, A., & Semuhoza, E. S. (2021). Causes of Early Motherhood, Consequences and Prevention Strategies: the case of early Pregnant Teenagers. Rwanda Journal of Social Sciences, Humanities and Business, 2(1), 1-132.
[32] Smith, A. D. (1989). The origins of nations. Ethnic and racial studies, 12(3), 340-367.
[33] Starkey, H. (2003). Intercultural competence and education for democratic citizenship: implications for language teaching methodology. Intercultural competence, 63-84.
[34] Tan, B. P., Naidu, N. B. M., & Jamil, Z. (2018). Moral values and good citizens in a multi-ethnic society: A content analysis of moral education textbooks in Malaysia. The Journal of Social Studies Research, 42(2), 119-134.
[35] Tilak, J. B. (2008). Higher education: A public good or a commodity for trade? Commitment to higher education or commitment of higher education to trade. Prospects, 38, 449-466.
[36] Udofia, C. A. (2021). Traditional African Values. Brolly, 4(1), 113-130.
[37] Udofia, C. A., & Uduigwomen, A. F. (2022). Political Defections in Nigeria: Implications for Our Nascent Democracy. Texas Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 8, 32-34.
[38] Udofia, D., & Alexander, C. (2017). Leadership in the Health Sector: A Discourse of the Leadesrhip Model of Utilitarianism. Journal of Health Ethics, 13(1), 6.
[39] Umoh, N., & Adeyi, E. M. (2019). Social integration: A nation-building strategy for Nigeria’s federalism. Review of Public Administration and Management, 6(3), 1-7.
[40] Wang, F. (2018). Social justice leadership—Theory and practice: A case of Ontario. Educational Administration Quarterly, 54(3), 470-498.
[41] Wills, J. (2008). Making class politics possible: organizing contract cleaners in London. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 32(2), 305-323.
[42] Zhong, B. L., Luo, W., Li, H. M., Zhang, Q. Q., Liu, X. G., Li, W. T., & Li, Y. (2020). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Chinese residents during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 outbreak: a quick online cross-sectional survey. International journal of biological sciences, 16(10), 1745.
Published
2023-06-21
How to Cite
OSSAI, Anthony Great.
Citizenship Education in Nigeria as an Alternative to National Unity.
JIE (Journal of Islamic Education), [S.l.], v. 8, n. 2, p. 124-137, june 2023.
ISSN 2528-0465.
Available at: <https://ejournal.stitmuhbangil.ac.id/index.php/jie/article/view/297>. Date accessed: 28 sep. 2023.
doi: https://doi.org/10.52615/jie.v8i2.297.
Section
Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
