Social Studies Education as A Tool for Rebranding Nigerians: Implications for National Development

Abstract

Nigeria holds a strategic place in the African continent and the global community. This is not unconnected with the fact that Nigeria is a diplomatic force in West Africa and a major player in African politics. Nigeria is home to one-fifth of the population of sub-saharan Africa and the most populous black nation in the world. Nigeria surpassed South Africa at the continent’s largest economy in 2014. Bellying tremendous resources, with a maximum crude oil production capacity of 2.5 million barrels per day, Nigeria however presents an interesting but paradoxical case study in the comity of nations. To all intents and purpose, the Nigerian state remains privatized, unpopular, and unhegenomic without discipline, strong working ethnics, integrity and good citizenship at the individual and corporate levels. Because of this, Nigeria has been branded with negative names and attributes which include corruption, drug, and human trafficking, insecurity, land of darkness, God-forgotten country, a country where nothing works amongst others. For this reason, Social Studies is assigned the responsibility to develop in Nigerian youth an understanding of their societal values, knowledge, values, and skills that would enable them to deal with and manage the forces of the world in which they live, and learn how to live harmoniously in the society. This study examines the philosophy and objectives of social studies education in Nigeria. the contents and purposes of the social studies education with consideration to its ability to instil high-quality moral values and good character in students and provide them with the necessary skills, abilities, and competencies, which individual students require to participate in the development of the nation. Social Studies Education with its robust aims, objectives and philosophy is recommended as a veritable tool to rebrand Nigerian and by implication for national development.