Counseling in a Nigerian University

Abstract

This study describes and evaluates the first two years of a student counseling center in a Nigerian university. The study revealed that the counseling center was hampered by lack of space, lack of staff, and by the ignorance and suspicions of students and lecturers. The study also indicated that there was a great need to investigate various parameters of the counseling situation to determine their effects in the Nigerian milieu.

Introducing group counselling into Nigerian secondary schools: Report of a three-year experience

“…Some might have disappeared because of many other factors, but the comparison with their classmates who did not join the groups convinced us that at least some of the problems were solved through counselling. The results here provide empirical data in support of others who had said over and over that students in Nigeria have a great need for counselling services My relationship with school authority .... (Abiri, 1977;Fafunwa, 1969;Cote, 1972;Mack, 1979 …”

“…The University of Ife student counselling programme run by Esen and Makinde (personal interview) focused mainly on university students' problems; no group counselling was attempted. Mack's (1979) account of the University of Lagos programme showed clearly that there was no attempt at group counselling. This report thus seems to be the first one on group counselling with any group of people in Nigeria.…”

The state of counseling in Nigeria

“…Earlier studies on counseling in Nigeria have shown that the cultural conflict between Western and African traditional values is most acute in secondary and university students who are engaged in a process of developing both an occupational and social identity (Mack, 1979;Esen, 1972). Different communities in Africa have their own ways of handling psychological problems, including those of occupational decision-making.…”

Counseling Nigerian Students in United States Colleges and Universities

“…Although it may be assumed that Nigerian students seek help from peers or other sources, the low percentage of contact with the counseling centers poses a concern to college counselors. These students have been known to shy away from counseling centers (Mack, 1979). The reasons for this attitude include lack of information about the centers, suspicion of the entire counseling process, and lack of awareness of the usefulness of counseling services.…”

“…Even then they are skeptical of the usefulness of counseling services. There is limited provision of counseling services in Nigeria (Mack, 1979;Pulleyblank, 1974).…”