Here in this article, we are going to discuss in great detail the role of citizenship education In Nigeria. We hope you find this piece educating.
Citizenship education was actually introduced for the purpose of inspiring social action from the Nigerian people. The Nigerian populace must first and foremost be educated in order for them to know how Nigeria works.
In this democratic society in which we live, the need for Nigerians to understanding things that have to do with democratic governance is of utmost important, and the need for them to participate in the democratic processes of their country in order to sustain their hard earned democracy is also essential, all for the purpose of making the Nigerian society to advance and move forward.
Citizenship education helps Nigerians, especially the teenagers to better understand the world around them and what is actually going on in the country, in which they lived.
Citizenship education has the capacity to developing minds who can also air out their own opinions, as well as, argue same effectively.
This aspect of education has also supported Nigerian people by developing their knowledge and skills so that they can be able to tackle difficult situations they may face in life intelligently with an open mind, especially when it has to do with the debate that relates to real life events and also with political happenings in the country.
The need to teaching Nigerian students citizenship as a subject within the schools in the country is of utmost importance, and also paramount in order to create informed and active members of the Nigerian society.
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Definition Of Citizenship Education
Citizenship education is defined as the process of teaching students, from their early stage, in order for them, to become clear-thinking individuals and enlightened Nigerian citizens who will be willing to participate in making decisions that will better the Nigerian society.
Knowing the nation’s institutions, and having knowledge about the rule of law and what it applies to both the social and human relationships, is what actually form an aspect of citizenship education courses.
The Roles Of Citizenship Education
Citizenship education was introduced in order to play some vital roles in advancing the cause of Nigerian society. Since discussing the roles of citizenship education is my focus in this article, we will be looking at some of the roles citizenship education has played in order to development Nigeria sociopolitical. Below are some of these roles:
1. Knowledge About Human Rights
The introduction of citizenship education has actually unveiled human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, which otherwise, would not have been known by the citizens.
Every man and woman, as well as, children came into the earth as just human beings. However, may I give thank to the historical conquest that has to do with human rights.
Every human is equal, both in terms of rights and dignity. Hence, the purpose of citizenship education was actually to educate future Nigerians.
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It was to address the ignorance of the Nigerian people about their constitutional rights and to also let them know that, they are individuals endowed with both conscience and reason.
This aspect of education never excludes the fact that human being is considered individuals, each with individual traits and characteristics.
Nevertheless, the human rights are of both civil and political, and the civil rights are of citizen’s rights and their obligations hence, the whole human rights education is all about the citizenship, which considers good citizenship to be connected with human rights.2. Trains Good Citizens
One of the roles played by citizenship education is that of training ‘good citizens, in other words, it trains citizens to know and to be aware of the human issues and political issues that are at stake in their individual states or the nation at large.
Every society requires ethical and moral qualities from every of its citizen, who had earned citizenship education. It is worthy of note that every form of citizenship education is driving towards inculcating in the students respect for each other, and also the recognition and understanding of the concept of equality of every human being.
Citizenship education has actually combat every form of discrimination that has to do with race, and gender, religious among others by way of fostering the spirit of coexistence and the spirit of tolerance as well as peace among all human beings.
3. Trains Children For Adulthood
Citizenship education trains Nigerian children for adulthood. Taking into consideration the complementarity, citizenship education actually was to educate the citizens, and also to train children for their adult lives and citizenship.
That is why, when we talk about the cultural traditions of every education system, we are likely to have, in most cases, citizenship education, which comprises of the knowledge of human rights and the right to exercise same.
More so, human rights education stresses civil rights and political rights as the basis of citizenship, and citizenship education espoused democratic culture and guaranteed good citizenship.
4. Encourages Democracy
Citizenship education encourages democracy. If there is anything or whatever idea that is inherent in citizenship education, it is the concept of democracy, which of course, concerns both politics and the institutions of state.
Citizenship education has dispensed the actual concept of democracy with the knowledge of the institutions which has helped in enabling Nigeria to function democratically.
5. Makes Citizens To Express Themselves Fully
The introduction of citizenship education has indeed helped in inculcating in Nigerian citizens a democratic culture and has also forbidden dogmatism in any type of citizenship education.
This is very essential, that is why, the manners, and the approaches and the methods adopted in citizenship education, are actually based on discourse among and between students and teachers hence, this has made it possible for young Nigerians to be able to speak and also to express themselves effectively especially, when it has to do with democratic governance and its processes.
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Conclusion
Citizenship education helps Nigerians, especially the teenagers to better understand the world around them and what is actually going on in the country, in which they lived.