CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION

Meaning of Citizenship Education

Citizenship education is the inculcation of the right type of values, attitudes, skills and knowledge in order to function effectively in the society. It can also be defined as the type of education that teaches individuals their rights, responsibility and values about themselves and the state in which they reside. It involves the process of learning knowledge or acquiring skills to carry out the required activities, or to participate in the affairs of the society at different levels. In other word, citizenship education is the type of education that helps citizens to know their rights as well as their corresponding duties and obligations to the state.

Goals of Citizenship Education

Some of the goals of citizenship education are as follows:

a. To enable people know their rights and duties as citizens.

b. To help citizens know the laws guiding or regulating their behaviours.

c. To inculcate the spirit of respect and obedience for leaders and fellow citizens in order to create a better society.

d. It guide the citizens in making rightful decisions and choices particularly voting at elections.

e. It teach the citizens the importance of respecting their national symbols such as the national currency, the national flag, coat of arms, national anthem and pledge etc.

f. To teach citizens how to demonstrate their love for the nation and keep it united in times of war or crisis.

g. It enables to know the structures and operation of the various arms of government such as the legislature, the executive and the judiciary.

h. It also help/guide citizens to develop skills that will make them function and live effectively in the society.

Duties and Obligations of Citizens to their Communities.

Duties are the expected roles every citizen should perform in a given society for the benefit of all, while obligation is a compulsory service or sacrifice which a citizen must perform for the survival of the society. The following are some of the duties and obligations to the society.

1. Obedience to Rules and Regulations of the State: it is the obligation of every citizen to obey the rules and regulations guiding the community where he/she belongs. A good citizen must not break the rules/regulations of his community.

2. Payment of Taxes: a respective citizen must pay tax to the community which he/she belongs. This will help generate revenue to enable it provide social services for the society.

3. Defence of the Country during War: citizens are expected to be loyal and committed to their country at all times. Adult citizens must be prepared to defend their country against external attack during national crisis/war.

4. Proper use of Amenities: a good citizen should make good use of public properties made available by government. He/she should protect them and be ready to report to appropriate authorities in case of damage to any of the properties.

5. Participation in Public Affairs: all citizens should participate in civic duties like voting during elections etc.

6. Respect for National Symbols: showing respect for national symbols is an act of nationalism, which shows how much love one has for ones country. This include respect for leaders, standing up when singing the national anthem etc.

 

 

7. Respect for Traffic Rules: traffic rules are meant to be obeyed by all citizens irrespective of status.

8. Rendering Assistance to Victims of National Disaster: a good citizen is expected to play a selfless role during national disaster by assisting the victims.

Skills Necessary for Preservation of Tradition, Customs and Beliefs.

In every society, there are certain traditions, customs and beliefs that determine how its citizens should behave. Tradition is the belief or a way of doing things that have been in existence among a particular group of people. Customs is an acceptable way of doing things in the society. While belief on the other hand is a strong feeling that something is right, good or true about the way of life of a group of persons in a community. Certain skills are needed to preserve tradition, custom or beliefs. These are:

i.         Food: every cultural group has its own native food. A good citizen should be able to prepare and eat his native food. Some of the popular ethnic groups with their native foods are Hausa (Tuwo/Taushe),

Ibo (Gari/Akpu/ Oha), Yoruba (Amala/Ewedu), Tiv (Pound Yam/Melons) etc. This will help in preserving their culture.

ii.      Language: language is a mode of expression by a group of persons, either by word of mouth or writing. It serves as a bond of friendship. Citizens are expected to learn to speak their language first before any other language. Language ensures a sense of acceptability and commonality for the speakers, and transmit culture from generation to generation. 

iii.   Marriage: it is mandatory in Nigeria for intending couples to perform the necessary traditional rites like payment of dowry etc. in accordance with the customs of the community before marriage can take place. Certain materials are required for the solemnisation of the marriage.  Failure to fulfil these requirements will prevent the couples from receiving the blessings of their parents and other relations.

iv.   Dressing: a good citizen should be very happy and proud whenever he dressed in his traditional attire. Dressing is an important skill for the preservation of tradition and customs in Nigeria.

v.      Greetings: a good citizen must learn the traditional way of greeting in his community. It is a way of showing courtesies (being polite) and respect to others, particularly the elderly ones. For instance, in Yorubaland, it is mandatory for a male child to prostrate to greet elders, while the female child must go down on her knees to greet. In Hausaland, a child must squat to greet parent or an elderly person.

vi.   Folklore: folklore are the traditional stories and cultures of a group of people about their ancestors, deities, cultural marriage and way of life. They are means of preserving the traditions of the people. Example, the Bayajidda? Daurama story.

vii.Festivals: festival is a periodic season or program of cultural events or entertainment wgich enables citizens of a particular area to enjoy their traditions, customs and beliefs. Examples; the Ibos have New Yam Festival, the Yoruba celebrates Masquerades, while the Hausa/Fulani celebrate the Argungu and Sharo festivals.

Presevation of National Consciousness, Integrity and Unity

National consciousness is the awareness among citizens to know that they are citizens of a nation. It is also seen as the expression of total commitment and feelings for the overall benefits of the state.it is the feeling one has as a member of a state. It could be preserve through the following ways:

1.   Service to the Nation:

rendering of service is expected in certain situations for the survival and oneness of the nation. Such as military service in times of war,the NYSC program by graduates of highher institutions has contributed to the growth and integration of the nation. 

2.   Recitation of the National Anthem and Pledge: reciting the national anthem and national pledge helps to arouse the feelingof loyalty and love to the nation. It also express the need for hard work and sacrifice for the interest of the society.

3.   National Festivals: organising national festivals like cultural carnivals, national sport festival and games, celebration of Independence anniversary help to preserve people's  culture.

4.   Inter-Ethnic Marriages: inter-ethnic marriages helps to cement oneness among people of different cultures like Nigeria and at the same time reduce inter-communal clashes and violence.

Edo  and Yoruba

Ibo  and Yoruba

Yoruba  and  Urhobo

5.   Tolerance: this entails allowing  people to express themselves freely without criticizing or punishing them.When you tolerate the bad aspect of a person, you will also learn the good part of such person.  This will promote national consciousness, integrity and unity.

6.   None discrimination: When there is no discrimination among people, everybody sees themselves as brothers and sisters. This will also promote national consciousness integrity and unity.