A professor of Guidance and Counselling at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Rosemary Ochanya Ogbodo-Adoga, has said “Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful and sustainable national development without investing in effective guidance and counselling services capable of addressing the educational, social and psychological challenges confronting its citizens.”
This was contained in a statement released Friday by the institution’s acting director of media and publicity, Omotola Ojudu.
According to the statement, Ogbodo-Adoga said that while delivering the university’s 40th Inaugural Lecture titled, “Guidance and Counselling for All: A Pathway to National Development,’ in Abuja recently.
She noted that Guidance and Counselling was indispensable instruments for addressing critical societal challenges, including “examination malpractice, cultism, drug abuse, unemployment, insecurity, indiscipline, peer pressure, emotional instability and the growing burden of mental health concerns, particularly among young people.”
“Guidance helps individuals understand themselves, discover their potentials and make informed life decisions, while counselling provides professional support that enables people to overcome personal, educational, vocational and social challenges,” she said.
She stressed that “every individual possesses unique talents and abilities that can be nurtured through proper guidance, noting that quality guidance services enable learners to make sound educational, career and personal decisions that ultimately contribute to national development.”
Ogbodo-Adoga observed that rapid technological advancement, globalisation, changing family structures and evolving workplace demands had significantly increased the need for professional counselling services.
Describing counselling as both a “preventive and intervention strategy,” she said it “equips individuals with healthy coping mechanisms, strengthens decision-making skills and promotes responsible life choices.”
She also advocated the effective implementation of comprehensive Guidance and Counselling programmes in schools through orientation, appraisal, consultation, placement, follow-up services, research and counselling interventions.
She also proposed the establishment of model educational institutions, including NOUN Nursery and Primary Schools in Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt, to expand access to quality education and strengthen learning outcomes.