Perceived Youths’ Contributions to National Stability and Integration by Students of Political Science and Public Administration, Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria: Implications for Human Development Counselling

Authors: Sababa L.K.

Pages: 19-24

Abstract:

This study investigated the extent to which students of political science and public administration, Adamawa State University, Mubi perceived the contributions of Nigerian youths to national stability and integration. Four research questions were raised to determine the major contributions of youths to national development and their perceived challenges. Four hypotheses determined whether gender and religious profession had any influence on students’ perception on youths’ contributions in forging national unity. The population of the study consisted of all students of political science and public administration, Adamawa State University, Mubi. A total of 200 students were selected out of the population of 2000 using stratified sampling technique. An Instrument titled: Students’ Leadership Behaviour and perception Battery (SLBPB) was developed by the researcher. The instrument was subjected to face and content validation and the reliability index of 0.69 was obtained using Guttmann’s split-half method. Descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages were used to answer research questions while the chi square independent two sample tests was used to test the hypotheses formulated. The result revealed military defense, inter-ethnic and inter-religious marriages as major strategies for achieving national unity while sectionalism, tribal loyalties and religious differences were identified as major challenges. The study also revealed a non-significant difference between Muslim and Christian students and political and public administration students in their perceived youths’ contributions to national development. It was therefore recommended that Government at the three levels should fund all interethnic and inter-religious marriages that are contracted by Nigerian youths. There should be leadership training programmes for all youths across the country. Multi-cultural activities should be organized for youths in secondary and post-secondary institutions. Human development counsellors should organize symposia and workshops for youths on transparent leadership.